The last time a guy named Bob Elliott did not win a men’s open singles championship at the annual Bertram A. Stroock Tennis Tournament, it was way back in 1998. That makes it five in a row (and seven of the last nine) for Elliott, who always seems to find himself in the finals of the Newtown Open or the Stroock Memorial Tournament.

Preliminary play in the tournament began earlier this month and everything – that includes the Victor Coopersmith Cup for junior players – will come to a head on Saturday and Sunday, September 4 and 5, at Dickinson Park with the semi-finals and finals of men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s 55 singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Now, Elliott holds the Stroock record with five consecutive singles titles, but the title he earned in 2003 moved him past a couple of guys who each won four in a row.

Tom Snyder won four titles in a row from 1981 through 1984 while Drew Arnold won four titles from 1988 through 1991.

On the women’s side, sine Diane Gucciardo won back to back titles in 1995 and 1995, the last seven years have seen only one repeat winner ... Alison Healey (1998 and 2002).

In the late 1980s and early ‘90s, Joanne Klopfenstein was the scourge of the local tennis circuit. She won her first title in 1987 and backed it up with another title in 1988 and after missing out in 1989, she came back to win back-to-back-to-back titles from 1990 through 1992.

Patty Murren won back-to-back titles in 1985 and 1986 before taking her game to the professional level.

Preliminary play in the Coopersmith Cup – named in honor of Victor Coopersmith – began this week at Dickinson Park. The 10-and-under division took to the court on Monday, the 18-and-under division followed on Tuesday, and the 14-and-under division began on Wednesday.

In the last 14 years (through available records), two players have won Junior championships and have gone on to win Stroock Tournament championships.

Preston Meyer won junior titles in 1990 and 1992 and captured his first men’s singles title in 1994.

Healey won junior titles 1992, 1995 and 1997 and captured women’s singles championships in the Stroock Tournament in 1998 and 2002.

For final round play in the Coopersmith or Bertram A. Stroock Tournament, should inclement weather threaten the proceedings, the matches may be moved indoors.