The 10th Annual Frank V. Cuiule Tennis Tournament will celebrate two milestones this year – the tournament’s first decade of existence, and the tournament namesake’s first century of existence.
The USTA sanctioned Level 6 event, sponsored by the Princeton Tennis Program, will be held Saturday, Sept. 21, at Hamilton’s Veterans Park on 2206 Kuser Road.
This year’s affair has special significance, after Frank V. Cuiule turned 100 on August 2 and is still playing the game he loves. Frank will take part in the “fun tournament” that his son Vince coordinates, which is a round-robin doubles affair with Cuiule and his friends.
The USTA event is being run by PTP Tournament Director Eric Wall and USTA referee Gene Fou.
“We are excited and proud to sponsor such a great event,” Wall said. “The Princeton Tennis Program’s main purpose is to support community tennis. Frank Cuiule has been a part of the community tennis scene since the 1930s and to still be playing at age 100 should be an inspiration for everyone out there. We congratulate Frank and welcome area players to be part of a competitive event while celebrating Frank’s 100th.”
The main USTA event is open to adult (18-and-over) men from levels 3.5 to 4.5, women from 3.0 to 4.0 and mixed doubles 3.0 and 3.5. Cost is $50 per person and registration deadline is 12 p.m. September 17. To register go to https://playtennis.usta.com/tournaments and type “Frank Cuiule” in the keyword search.
All participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt on which the logo celebrates Cuiule’s 100th year of life and his nearly 80 years of playing tennis.
The sport is a way of life for Frank, who received a proclamation from Mayor Jeff Martin when he turned 100.
“Tennis is a great sport and I think it has helped me to stay healthy over the years,” he said. “I’m so fortunate that I’m still able to play and enjoy the doubles competition with my friends.”
The son of Italian immigrants, Cuiule played for Trenton High’s team before graduating in 1942. Health issues temporarily prevented him from enlisting in the Navy when World War II broke out so he worked at General Motors as a riveter for bomber planes.
Cuiule was finally able to enlist into the Navy in 1944 and while training in San Francisco he volunteered for a critical mission in the Pacific. He became part of a naval mission in the Battle of Okinawa, the war’s final battle, then reembarking to Pearl Harbor and arriving on the day the Japanese surrendered.
Back in the states he married wife Connie, now 96, in 1948. That same year he began working as a mail delivery man for the U.S. Post Office.
“When he was playing tennis they used to say ‘The mailman delivers,’ because he always hit the winning shot,” his son, Vince Cuiule, said. “It didn’t matter how fast the ball came over, he would somehow get his racket on it and hit his famous drop shot where the other player couldn’t return it.”
Cuiule played tournaments on occasion, but most of his tennis came in doubles with his friends at Veterans Park. He plays there so much that a court was named after him when he turned 90.
“He didn’t play in a formal league but he was always finding doubles partners,” Vince said. “He would bring young players in. He’d tell them ‘Come join us for doubles, you’ll learn how to play the game.’ Many of them took up the game and credit my dad for getting them interested.”
Frank retired from the Post Office at age 75 which gave him even more time to hit the courts. Vince credit’s his dad’s job and passion as a reason he can amazingly still play as a centenarian.
“As a mailman he walked most of the time at work, and tennis has helped his longevity a lot,” Vince said. “He was always fit and he’s got a very positive attitude about things.”
Frank will again play in the doubles round-robin tournament, an event he won last year with his long time doubles partner, Wayne Michalis, along with Khalid Syed, who backed up Cuiule after several games.
“Frank will play at least a few games again this year, and then enjoy the day with his family and friends,” Vince said.
For further information on the PTP-sponsored 10th Annual Frank Cuiule Tournament text Eric Wall at 609-332-1833 (do not call/text messages only).
Frank V. Cuiule celebrated his 100th birthday this year.,
