Midland has been named the top tennis city in the country, defeating 56 other cities for the title in online voting by the public, reported Wendy Franz, originally of St. Ignace, who is the director of tournaments and membership at the Midland Community Tennis Center. The Best Tennis Town winner was announced in ceremonies at the U.S. Open in New York.

In fact, Ms. Franz was at the St. Ignace home of her sister, Cheryl Schlehuber, when she learned that her efforts, and those of many others, to develop Midland as a top tennis destination had resulted in winning the designation.

The competition was sponsored by the United States Tennis Association and the first place prize is $100,000 to be used to enhance interest in the game and improve local tennis facilities.

In Midland, Ms. Franz is credited with developing a modest schedule of seven tournaments into 23 events a year, making the Midland Community Tennis Center Tournament Central in the Midwest. She also is credited with growing the membership to its current level of 3,500 people, said Mike Woody, executive director of the club.

A certified professional instructor by the United States Professional Tennis Association, Ms. Franz also gives private lessons and plays competitive tennis. She has worked at Midland Community Tennis Center since 2002.

In the Best Tennis Town contest, other finalists included Ojai, California, and Independence, Kansas. Well known tennis towns like Les Vegas, Nevada, Tempe Arizona, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, did not make the final three.