The finals of the 2012 Ann Arbor city singles tennis tournament singles will be played Sunday at the University of Michigan's Varsity Tennis Center.

AnnArbor.com file photo

After a disappointing turnout to the 2011 Ann Arbor City Tennis Tournament, a field of 181 is competing in this week’s singles event, a near 50-percent increase over last year.

“We’re really excited,” said tournament director Helen Giordani. “I attribute it to the community, really.”

According to Giordani, there was a chance the city’s four annual tournaments - which includes doubles and juniors events - would not happen this year because of dwindling participation, increased costs and a need for more volunteers to put the various events together.

Once members of the Ann Arbor Area Community Tennis Association heard of the need, a movement began to ensure the tournaments went on as planned.

“They really showed us how much they love the Ann Arbor city tournament,” Giordani said. “It was really overwhelming.”

Those 181 singles players begin play at 6 p.m. Wednesday, with first-round matches played at the University of Michigan’s Varsity Tennis Center, Pioneer High School and Skyline High School.

Of the 12 divisions open to participants, none gains more attention than the men’s open, which routinely draws the best players from the county.

Defending champion Mats Ljungman will be looking to claim his fifth title since 1995. The 54-year-old won championships in 1995, 1996, 2004 and 2011.

Among the entrants looking to unseat Ljungman are Sven Holcombe, an Australia native who faced Ljungman in a semifinal match in last year’s tournament. Holcombe was the three-time men’s open champion from 2009-11 and has already claimed a mixed doubles championship this year with partner Betsy Capelli.

When Ljungman won his first championship, two of his competitors weren’t alive. Jason Kerst, 14, and Jack Petersen, 15, are two of the top-rated prep players in the state.

Petersen attends Huron High School and is the No.5-rated junior in the state according to tennisrecruiting.net.

Last year, at age 13, Kerst won the boys u-18 championship and is currently the No. 4 ranked freshman in Michigan according to tennisrecruiting.net. Kerst will attend Skyline in the fall.

Ljungman’s son and doubles partner, Erik, will also be playing in the open division. If he wins his first-round match, he will face his father in the second round.

“It’s definitely a big draw to some of the older players that want to take on the young kids,” Giordani said. “They love hitting with each other and learn the new strokes and the old crafty strokes.”

This year’s tournament also marks the return of the women’s open flight, which has been absent since 2008. While there are only four participants, the number of women participating overall increased greatly.

“That was really wonderful, especially, for me to see,” said Giordani. “A lot of women stepped up and joined. I’m looking forward to seeing the singles women shine.”

The tournament runs through Sunday, when championship matches will be held at the Varsity Tennis Center. Click here for full times, draws and locations for each division.