Picture a tennis match played in the dead of winter, where players smash balls off cage walls and strategic rallies can last for minutes. This is platform tennis, the fast-growing winter sport – and it’s coming to Chestnut Hill in a big way.

The American Platform Tennis Association (APTA) has chosen the Philadelphia Cricket Club to host its prestigious National Championship tournament from March 6 to 8, bringing 256 of the world’s finest players to compete in what enthusiasts call “paddle tennis.” The event marks a local milestone for a sport that has seen explosive growth, with APTA membership doubling from 18,000 to over 35,000 in just the five years since Covid.

For the uninitiated, platform tennis offers a unique twist on traditional racquet sports. Played on an elevated court that’s roughly half the size of a tennis court, the game combines the strategic finesse of tennis with the enclosed court dynamics of racquetball. What makes it truly distinctive is the wire mesh fencing that surrounds each court, allowing players to bounce balls off the walls – and the kind of extended rallies that deliver maximum fun. 

Platform tennis can be an intense game with lengthy matches, explains Bruce Redpath, co-chair of the APTA Nationals tournament along with Andy Addis. Yet the unique aspects of the game make it a hit.

“The game is social, competitive, outside in the winter and has a spirit of camaraderie amongst the players where they battle on the court, but are ready to have a beverage after the match and be friends,” Redpath says.

The heated courts underneath allow for winter play when other outdoor sports are impossible, and the unique court design creates dynamic matches where players use both the playing surface and surrounding walls to their advantage.

This combination of year-round playability and strategic complexity has helped fuel the sport’s surging popularity. As traditional tennis courts lay dormant under winter snow, platform tennis courts buzz with activity, creating tight-knit communities of players who brave the cold for their passion.

The APTA Nationals will showcase this enthusiasm on a grand scale, featuring the top 64 men’s and women’s teams who have qualified through a yearlong national tour. The tournament is drawing an international field, with competitors from Russia, Romania, France, Poland, Chile, Spain, and England. Local fans will have someone to root for in Tomas Christian, one of the top men’s players, who grew up in Glenside and played tennis at La Salle University.

This is the first time the national championship will be held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, although the Philadelphia area does host the tournament once every seven years. This rarity makes Redpath and other organizers of the event eager to put on a good show.

“It’s probably once in our lifetime…this is an opportunity to do it one time and to do it right,” says Redpath. “The Philadelphia club has been great. Our local members and the local corporate sponsors have been supportive and generous in their efforts and we’re going to put on a first-class event for people to enjoy.”

Due to the number of games being played, there will be 16 other satellite locations located within roughly 30 miles of the cricket club that will be hosting games in the tournament. Gameplay begins at all locations on Thursday, March 6 and continues through Friday, March 7. On March 8, the semifinal and final matches will be played at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. 

Redpath says that the Philadelphia Cricket Club has risen to the occasion to take on such a big event.

“The Philadelphia Cricket Club does a great job on all these different events,” says Redpath. “They host so many different types of events, from sporting events to weddings to different catering events to school functions to holiday scenarios and everything else. The staff there is top-notch. They understand how difficult and how big an undertaking this is.”

Admission to the event is free for the public. Redpath says the Philadelphia Cricket Club is setting up a grandstand with 1000 seats and lights for the courts. There will be food trucks and a beer truck for spectators as well as APTA merchandise for sale. 

A portion of the proceeds from the sales will go towards SHiNE, a Chester County-based charity that offers free services to cancer patients. SHiNE assists patients in navigating their treatment journey, schedules appointments, offers transportation to and from appointments and provides emotional support, wig services, and more. There will also be QR codes at the tournament for attendees to donate to SHiNE.

Redpath says that this event’s impact on the community is twofold. It will not only benefit the fans who attend the tournament, but it will also benefit local businesses that can expect to see an influx of new customers.

“I’m not only hoping that people that live in Chestnut Hill might walk over and participate at the cricket club, but more importantly, it allows a lot of the people who have never been to this area before to experience Chestnut Hill,” says Redpath. “They will go to the restaurants, go to the bars, and go to the stores. In between matches, there will be spectators coming from different areas, who will be staying in hotels and walking the avenue… I think it’s a good opportunity for us to showcase this great piece of the world.”

The APTA Nationals will livestream on the APTA network, which can be found at platformtennis.org.