While it may not be the U.S. Open, local tennis players provided some action of their own this past weekend, as the Frostbite Tennis Tournament was held on the outdoor courts at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre.

And once again, Mother Nature proved there's nothing quite like tennis in the Yukon.

In the course of just one week the four courts at Mount Mac were greeted with rain, sunshine, extended daylight, freezing temperatures, and even a sugarcoating of hail to top it all off.

Despite Mother Nature playing her own games, it was all smiles at the annual tennis tournament. About 30 diehard Yukoners participated in singles, doubles, mixed doubles and junior events.

Organizer Kyle Marchuk said the tennis community, though sparse in numbers, made a racquet' with laughter and applause on the weekend. Unlike audiences you might see on TV, this breed of spectator prefers to make noise, encouraging players with whistles, foot stomping, and the odd moose call, said Marchuk.

Speaking of wild game, he added, while Wimbledon serves strawberries and cream, The Yukon Meat & Sausage Deli provided competitors with caribou smokies and bison burgers for the barbecue over the weekend a much more substantial meal in their minds and stomachs.

After being approached by some people to help get the event back up and running this year, Marchuk said he was pleased with the turnout.

A former member of Team Ontario who competed at the national championships, he started playing tennis competitively at the tender age of five and kept going until he finished high school. He's spent some time coaching various ages as well.

'I was that geeky kid in white tennis shorts,' he laughed.

Now living in Whitehorse, where he plays the occasional recreational tennis game in his spare time, Marchuk is eager to see interest in the local club expand.

Tennis, he said, is a challenging game. It can be technical and physically demanding, but is also good fun for all ages.

'A lot of people don't even know there are courts up here.'

Marchuk believes the lack of interest has a lot to do with the lack of certified coaches as well as volunteers. The fact there are no indoor courts could also be discouraging, but he understands building them would be costly.

For now, setting up courts in the flexi-hall at the Canada Games Centre will suffice for the local club. Marchuk plans on renewing his coaching certificate and starting lessons this winter at the Games centre.

Frostbite Tennis is also considering putting together a junior team for the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island.

'We've been talking to a few people and it looks very positive so far,' he said of the possibility.

The tennis association is hosting an orientation for those interested on Saturday, Sept. 22.

The event will run from noon to 3 p.m. at the Mount Mac courts.

Team members for the 2009 Games are required to have been born in 1991 or later to be eligible. You can contact Marchuk at 332-5433 for further information.

The final results of the Frostbite Tennis Tournament this past weekend were as follows:

Men's Doubles

Eric Ogris and Jerry Wald def.

Josh Robinson and Kyle Marchuk

Women's Doubles

Marissa Johnson and Laurie

Drummond def.

Iza Gomez and Tara Marchuk

Mixed Doubles

Laurie Drummond and Eric Hindson def. Tara and Kyle Marchuk

Men's Singles

Kyle Marchuk def. Jerry Wald

Senior Men's Singles

Michel Gelinas won the round robin

Juniors

Sam (no last name given) def.

Benjamin Gelinas