Tennis players looking to hit the ball around can do so at their leisure any time, but there is a formal option for enthusiasts as a once prior-established group and tournament are on the comeback trail.

The Newtown Tennis Association, which has been mostly idle in recent years, may be very active again, thanks to the efforts of Ehab Farah, a tennis-playing enthusiast from Newtown.

Mr Farah, 54, who has played tennis for 44 years, held an initial meeting to solicit interest in revitalizing the Newtown Tennis Association in mid-March.

“It was great. I’m very happy,” said Mr Farah, adding that 67 people showed up to Middlebury Racquet Club to show their interest.

As of earlier this week, the group has 87 members. Annual family membership is $20. Mr Farah has since organized meet, greet, and join events at area businesses, including a March 20 event at Reverie Brewing Company in Newtown. This is in an effort to support hometown businesses while generating interest in the game, he said.

“There is a lot of interest,” Mr Farah said. “People are excited. People want to play tennis.”

The next event, open to people to play tennis and for prospective members to find out more about the group, is scheduled at Middlebury Racquet Club on Saturday, April 13, beginning at 6 pm. Mr Farah asks people to register on the Newtown Tennis Association’s Facebook page or by sending an e-mail to tennisnewtown@gmail.com.

Thanks to the efforts of Mr Farah, tennis enthusiasts can be assured of having someone to scrimmage against or partner with.

Mr Farah is coordinating drop-in tennis times in town on Sunday mornings at Treadwell Park on Philo Curtis Road and Wednesday evenings at Dickinson Park on Elm Drive. Mr Farah has worked with the town to set up temporary lights and plans to go to the United States Tennis Association for a grant for permanent lights at Dickinson Park.

“I am big on the social part of the sport,” said Mr Farah, who added that the group is open not only to Newtown residents, but also out-of-town tennis lovers. “I enjoy watching people play tennis. It’s my passion, and we want to get kids involved.”

A nonprofit, the Newtown Tennis Association plans to sponsor children interested in tennis who have financial needs. Mr Farah and Brett Teolis, who will serve as director of the Newtown Open, are trying to organize a junior tourney in town to take place in the fall.

Circle the second-to-last weekend in June on your calendars. The Newtown Open, for players 18 and older, which will feature, singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and over 55 divisions, is scheduled to return that Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23.

The last Open took place in 2107, and the most recent one before that was back in 2008.

“My goal is to have it every year,” said Mr Farah, adding that he has more than a dozen sponsors for the event, from which proceeds will support tennis-playing children.

“We are here to stay,” Mr Farah said of the Newtown Tennis Association.

Mr Teolis, 34, has played the game for 24 years and is the head professional at Rock Ridge Country Club as well as an instructor at Middlebury Racquet Club. Mr Teolis ran the Open in 2017 and is looking forward to this year’s event.

“I’m honored to be partnering with the NTA in bringing back The Newtown Open,” Mr Teolis said. “Newtown is a thriving tennis community that has such a great mix of players at all ages and will continue to grow the more social and competitive events we organize. Tennis is a game you can play your entire life and experience great health benefits, both physically and mentally.

“It’s important to have a consistent activity in your life that gets your heart rate up and allows you to socialize with others in the community. I’m proud to be a tennis provider, and in my experience, this is one of the best tennis communities to live in,” he added.

Tennis is a game people can enjoy at pretty much any age, Mr Teolis and Mr Farah noted. Mr Farah said he is hopeful parents of Newtown High School tennis players will join Newtown Tennis Association, since their teenagers are the future of adult tennis here in town.

“This is a sport you can play from age 3 to 89,” Mr Teolis said.

“It’s a sport for life,” Mr Farah added.

For information on the Newtown Tennis Association, visit its Facebook page. Cost to participate in the Newtown Open is $30 for singles players and $60 for doubles entries. For details on the tourney, go to newtowntennisassociation.com.