Slow River Episode 11: Wilfred Sykes Photobombs Tennis in the Land on the Cuyahoga River

The return of our Slow River series started last Friday night at Tennis in the Land at Jacobs Pavilion, a WTA 250 tournament, the last of the US Open Series before the big show begins its 14-day run in New York on Monday, August 29, 2022. On a beautiful end of summer evening by Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River we were content to enjoy the women’s singles semi where Liudmila Samsanova dismantled Bernarda Pera. Then a 678 foot-long freighter photobombed the tourney.

Before the women’s singles match, a classic Great Lakes freighter, the Wilfred Sykes provided spectators a great watch as Great Lakes Group’s tug Pennsylvania guided the Sykes to open water in Lake Erie. “Built by American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, OH in 1949 for Inland Steel Co., the streamlined bulk freighter Wilfred Sykes was the first new American-built Great Lakes vessel constructed after World War II.”

After passing Jacobs Pavilion, the Sykes gave the audience and boaters downriver a couple of LOUD horn salutes. No doubt players thought, “We won’t get THAT at the NY Open in Flushing Meadow!” And later power on the west bank went out…

Tennis in the Land Photo Gallery (Friday Night 8/26/22)