Before Maggie Mason started playing pickleball, she had some preconceived notions about the sport, which combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. But after playing semi-regularly for the past two months — including taking a three-session introduction class to the sport at the Strawberry Recreation District — her perspective has changed. With more than 3 million current players of all ages in the U.S., pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country — and now Strawberry is getting in the game. (Frank Fennema photo / For The Ark)

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A bathroom break at a pivotal moment in a thrilling Tiburon Challenger finals match Sept. 29 led to a controversial penalty that helped first-seeded American Tommy Paul take home the top tournament prize. Australian finalist and eighth seed Thanasi Kokkinakis was penalized a full game for taking a long bathroom break between the second and third set of the final singles match. Paul then seized on the momentum, hitting a number of high-speed aces in the third set to dispatch the Australian and win the Challenger tournament 7-5, 6-7 (7-3) and 6-4. (Frank Fennema photo / For The Ark)

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Ryan Aytay of Tiburon was the top local finisher in the sixth annual Tiburon Half Marathon on Sept. 29, coming in 12th overall and sixth among men 40-49. Aytay, 42, finished the 13.1-mile loop from downtown Tiburon to the Strawberry peninsula in 1 hour, 28 minutes and 5 seconds. Amanda Boyd, 41, of Belvedere was the top local female finisher, coming in 64th overall and fourth in her age group of women 40-49 with a time of 1:41:28. (Frank Fennema photo / For The Ark)

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The 13th annual $100,000 Tiburon Challenger tennis tournament returns to the Tiburon Peninsula Club Sept. 22-29, bringing emerging men’s pro-circuit players from around the world while offering several special events focused on locals. The tournament kicks off 10 a.m.-noon Sept. 22 with the annual Kids’ Play Day, in which children ages 6-12 will have a chance to play noncompetitive games and meet the pros during a special exhibition performance and a courtside chat with players. The professional action begins with qualifying matches Sept. 23. Main-draw matches start the same day and run through Sept. 26. Quarterfinals are Sept. 27, semifinals the following day and finals on Sept. 29.

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Tiburon Peninsula residents Dan Grossman and Polo Cowan captured the men’s 55 doubles world championship in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 10-17. Grossman is now ranked No. 4 in the world in his men's 65 age group for doubles tennis, while Cowan is ranked No. 1 in the world for the men's 55 age group. (Elliot Karlan photo / For The Ark)

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