Richmond tennis is on a roll—and the results are making waves across the community. This fall season, the Richmond Tennis Association (RTA) celebrated an extraordinary achievement as three teams captured USTA League Championships, earning the honor of representing Richmond at the Northern California Championships in Sacramento later this January.
The championship trio includes the 8.5 Women Combo team, the 7.5 Men Combo team, and the JTT 14 & Under Junior team—a testament to the strength of Richmond tennis at every level, from youth to adult competition. Pictures attached!!
Women’s 8.5 Combo: Rivalry Renewed, Victory Repeated
The RTA 8.5 Women Combo team, captained by Jorge Salinas, powered through the season with an impressive 8–2 record before facing familiar foes in the league championship: the Mills team. For the second year in a row, Richmond rose to the occasion and defeated their archrival when it mattered most.
Doubles Line #1 Angie Esswein and Barbara Sullivan delivered a confident 6–3, 6–4 win, while Line #2 Somi and Euna Roh followed with a strong 6–4, 6–3 victory. Line #3 Caitlin Finnell and Nabasa Gadde battled valiantly in a tightly contested match, narrowly falling 6–7, 3–6.
With contributions across the lineup, the full 23-player squad celebrated another championship moment and now eagerly looks ahead to Sacramento.
Men’s 7.5 Combo: Playoff Drama and a Perfect Finish
The RTA 7.5 Men Combo team, captained by David Kardon, delivered one of the most thrilling postseason runs of the year. After finishing the regular season at 9–1, Richmond was forced into two playoff matches due to a tie atop the standings.
In the first playoff, Richmond edged out Chabot Canyon Racquet Club in a dramatic 2–1 victory.
Line #1 Salvatore Marchetti and FernandoRamos set the tone with a clutch 7–5, 6–3 win.
Line #2 Ed-Sukit Tretriloxana and Ivan Scruby fought hard but fell in a tight super tiebreaker.
Line #3 Kyan Tsang and Marco Valgonio delivered the moment of the night—rallying after losing a second-set tiebreak to win the super tiebreaker and clinch the team victory.
That win set up a championship showdown against longtime rival Claremont Resort and Spa, the only team to defeat Richmond during the regular season. Playing at their home courts at Nicholl Park, Richmond came out focused and fearless.
Line #1 Marchetti and Ramos ignited the crowd with a dominant 6–3, 6–3 win, powered by Salvatore’s booming serves and Fernando’s relentless net pressure.
Line #2 Phil Miller and Marco Valgonio used their righty-lefty combination to control points and secure a 6–4, 7–5 victory.
Line #3 Ivan Scruby and Kyan Tsang sealed the championship in style with a commanding 6–4, 6–2 win, completing a 3–0 sweep of Claremont.
With that statement performance, Richmond claimed the league title and booked its trip to Sacramento for the January 23–25 Northern California Championships.
Junior Team Triumph: Richmond’s Future Shines Bright
Adding to the excitement, Jorge Salinas also captained RTA’s USTA Junior Team Tennis (JTT) 14 & Under team, which featured two of his sons and a talented group of young competitors: Angus Watson (14), Anthony Chen (13), Brayden Chen (13), Matthieu Salinas (13), Nathan Salinas (11), and Sarahana Chitaure (11).
Facing a previously undefeated Meadow JTT team stacked with high school players, Richmond’s juniors were undeterred. Showing maturity beyond their years, RTA dominated the match with a 42–22 victory, earning their spot at the Northern California Championships.
Richmond’s singles players—Anthony, Brayden, Matthieu, and Nathan—led the charge with steady, patient play and smart net attacks. In doubles, the team dropped just one line while comfortably winning the other three.
It was an inspiring performance by a group of young athletes competing in only their second league season—and a promising glimpse into the future of Richmond tennis.
With three championship teams heading north, Richmond is proving that its tennis community is stronger than ever. Congratulations to all our players and captains—and good luck in Sacramento. Go Richmond!