2025 in Review - 40+ Playoff Preview!

The USTA league playoffs will soon be upon us and it'll be the wise sage veterans of the 3.0 game that will be up first! So who's in? Who's out? And who's about to hit the ball in - or out - and claim a District title?

NEO 40+

Flight Winners

Flight 1 Champion = North Ridge, Captain Robert, 10-0

Flight 2 Champion = North Canton, Captain William, 8-2

Flight 3 Champion = Mayfield Village, Captain Rhonda, 8-2

Flight Wild Card = Paramount Medina, Captain Kenneth, 7-3

Playoff Seeds & Playoff Bracket (July 25 & 27)

1 North Ridge v 4 Paramount Medina

2 Mayfield Village v 3 North Canton

Preview

NEO sees two returnees from last season's District Championships as Captain Robert's North Ridge, one of the premier 40+ clubs in all of O-H-I-O, led his west side group to an undefeated 10-0 mark en route to the numero uno seed in this winner-take-all bracket, a big change from previous round-robin formats! Led by 80+ winner Robert, 2024 D.F.O. Doubles Player of the Year Ben, the fiery Mike, singles star Josh, and rapidly improving Santos, not to mention D.F.O. Hall of Famer Captain Robert, one of the most legendary players and captains in all of O-H-I-O, North Ridge looks to avenge their runner-up finish from last season!

To do so, though, they'll have to take on Paramount Medina, a club that weathered the 3.0 storm in the combo Flight 2/3 and earned wins or close finishes versus the #2 and #3 seeds! Indeed, Captain Kenneth can send out singles star Sayyad, he of Midwest Independence Open glory as well as doubles veterans Denny, Ram, and the always wily Roderick! And don't forget about Eric, vice-champion of the Towpath doubles event!

Facing off in the bottom of the bracket are two clubs that no one another well - MVRC and NCRC! And indeed, in a closely contested 3-2 match, NCRC defeated MVRC earlier in the league season! Both teams bring fire power as NCRC's leader, Captain William has five double-digit winners to call upon, including Jason, singles star Michael, and the tag-team 3.0 duo of Jerome and Michael who have 14 wins together! MVRC, though, is no slouch, and can counter with 20 match winners (!) Ravi, Alex, and Trip, the latter of whom are 13-3 together as a tandem! Not to mention, Captain Rhonda is back and looking to avenge MVRC's 2024 third place finish!

Fun Facts

Despite their historic 40+ and 55+ success (and imagine how good they'd be at 95+?!), North Ridge is looking for their first ever District title, as is Paramount Medina. MVRC and NCRC, meanwhile, are both looking to add their second 40+ title to their trophy case! And if NCRC can indeed do so, that'll be their fourth overall District title across all 3.0 age groups. HOW FUN!

Predictions

With five courts but only one of them singles, look for doubles to win the day (literally) and any singles advantages to be slightly muted. Thus, while Paramount Medina has the advantage in singles with trophy-winning Sayyad, the doubles prowess of North Ridge could tip the 3.0 scales towards the #1 seed. That being said, Captain Robert - he of well over 80 Captaining Wins! - would be wise to be wary of Paramount's bevy of veteran 3.0 doubles stars, so look for this one to be a close one with Paramount Medina scoring the stunner!

On the other side of the bracket, can Captain Rhonda's MVRC rebound from a regular season loss to NCRC? According to our reporters, yes! That being said, it'll be tough, as North Canton's favorite club has so much depth and flexibility, but with three 3.0 20 game winners, MVRC looks to take the stop spot in NEO 40+ when all is said and done!

OHVA 40+

Flight Winners

Dayton Summer - Virginia Hollinger T.A., Captain Zachary, 4-2

Charleston Fall - YMCA of Kanawha, Captain JL, 6-0

Bracket (July 27)

Preview

In one of the more interesting matchups around, Ohio Valley's 40+ District championship will take place in Dayton between a team from the area and one from ... West Virginia! Captain Zachary's VHTA, making it's first post-season appearance in club history, takes on the storied YMCA of Kanawha, a club that usually plies its 3.0 trade in the 18+ division. Captain JL of West Virginia has his work cut out for him, for only one club has ever won a 40+ District title from the state that's, according to some, not even in O-H-I-O (what?!). And that was way back in 2002!

Predictions

That being said, Captain JL's YMCA has some advantages. One, 2024 D.F.O. Hall of 3.0 Famer, L Cochran, is on his roster, as is tournament stalwart Geoffrey. Two, the Dayton-area clubs only played three 3.0 courts during their regular season while the Charleston-area clubs played five, meaning YMCA should have the advantage in terms of playing experience. However, history just isn't on Charleston's side ... nor is time, seeing as their regular season wrapped up way back in ... December of 2025. Nor is travel, as they have to make the trip to O-H-I-O. So ... are these guys even available to make the trip to Quail Run Racquet Club where the event is taking place?! Because of all of these questions, look for Dayton's dominance to continue ... at least for this year!

NWO 40+

Flight Winners

Northwestern Ohio - BGSU, Captain Jason, 6-0

Bracket (July ... never?)

Preview

Well, with only three teams in the entire league/Flight and only one making the playoffs, Captain Jason's BGSU are three-peating their way to a trip to the State championships. Huzzah!

Predictions

Shut up.

Check back next week when we reveal the results AND we preview the 18+ District events taking place in - YOU GUESSED IT - O-H-I-O!

AND NO, WE CAN'T SPELL IT!