The President’s Cup was established in 1978 in
order to create a national competition for amateur paddlers. Platform tennis
had begun to be increasingly professionalized, especially in the East, and good
regional players were losing interest in this type of competition.
Increasingly, separate regional tournaments were held for these
non-professionals (defined as not nationally ranked.) Each Region held its own
qualifying tournament to determine which four teams from its Region would be
sent to the President’s Cup.
Initially four Regions competed:
Region I: Downstate New York, New Jersey, Connecticut (Fairfield County)
Region II: Massachusetts through Maine, Connecticut
Region III: Pennsylvania and Southeastern states
Region IV: Mid-United States and Pittsburgh
 They participated in a
“round robin” tournament with the #1 team from each Region playing its
counterparts from the other Regions. The #2, #3, and #4 teams had comparable
“round robins” and the Region which scored the most victories received the
sterling silver President’s Cup.
From 1978 to 1981, this competition remained a two-day event. In 1979, players
from the West Coast, Region V joined the competition.
In 1982, the format of the President’s Cup changed, when it became a one-day
tournament immediately preceding the National Championships. The top regional
players could travel in for the Cup, then enter the Nationals. At the same
time, the APTA abolished distinctions between amateurs and pros, allowing each
Region to select its strongest teams for the Cup.
The Women’s President’s Cup was established in 1983, with three regional teams
competing.
In 1984, a sixth Region was established – Region IV (upstate New York and
Canada.) To accommodate players from the six Regions without exhausting them
the day before the Nationals, a modified scoring system was devised.
Men's President's Cup Winners:
| Year |
Location |
Winner |
| 1978 |
Montclair |
NJ IV |
| 1979 |
South Euclid |
OH IV |
| 1978 |
Montclair |
NJ IV |
| 1980 |
Paoli |
PA I, IV (tie) |
| 1981 |
West Newton |
MA I |
| 1982 |
Allendale |
NJ I |
| 1983 |
New Canaan |
CT IV |
| 1984 |
Cleveland |
OH IV |
| 1985 |
Scarsdale |
NY III |
| 1986 |
Scarsdale |
NY I |
| 1987 |
Cleveland |
OH IV |
| 1988 |
Rochester |
NY III |
| 1989 |
Scarsdale |
NY III |
| 1990 |
Chicago |
IL III |
| 1991 |
Philadelphia |
PA III |
| 1992 |
Long Island |
NY III |
| 1993 |
Cleveland |
OH V |
| 1994 |
Scarsdale |
NY III |
| 1995 |
Montclair |
NJ I |
| 1996 |
Rochester |
NY I |
| 1997 |
Pittsburgh |
PA V |
| 1998 |
Chicago |
IL V |
| 1999 |
New York |
NY IV |
| 2000 |
Rochester |
NY III |
| 2001 |
Summit |
NJ IV |
| 2002 |
Long Island |
NY IV |
|
 |
Women's President's Cup Winners:
| Year |
Location |
Winner |
| - |
- |
- |
| - |
- |
- |
| - |
- |
- |
| - |
- |
- |
| - |
- |
- |
| - |
- |
- |
| 1983 |
New Canaan |
CT IV |
| 1984 |
Cleveland |
OH IV |
| 1985 |
Scarsdale |
NY III |
| 1986 |
Scarsdale |
NY IV, V |
| 1987 |
Cleveland |
OH IV, V |
| 1988 |
Rochester |
NY IV, V |
| 1989 |
Scarsdale |
NY III |
| 1990 |
Chicago |
IL II |
| 1991 |
Philadelphia |
PA I |
| 1992 |
Long Island |
NY III |
| 1993 |
Cleveland |
OH V |
| 1994 |
Scarsdale |
NY III |
| 1995 |
Montclair |
NJ III |
| 1996 |
Rochester |
NY IV |
| 1997 |
Pittsburgh |
PA V |
| 1998 |
Chicago |
IL V |
| 1999 |
New York |
NY V |
| 2000 |
Rochester |
NY III |
| 2001 |
Summit |
NJ I |
| 2002 |
Long Island |
NY I |
|
|
