NATCHEZ — Following a tennis battle under the sun — that caused a few players to undergo intravenous therapy over the weekend — winners were declared with heavy hearts Sunday afternoon at Duncan Park.

As hot it was, though, weather was an afterthought in the 2015 Cancer Tennis Tournament. Following Kerry Kaiser and Jane Opperman’s win the round robin tournament format for mixed 8.0 doubles, Opperman had her sister Nancy Laird and mother Dorothy Chauvin on her mind, who are both cancer survivors.

“You absolutely think about it,” Opperman said. “Cancer has had an impact on our family, and it’s great my sister is able to get out here and play.”

Laird not only played, she won. Laird teamed with Mary Ruth Caldwell to defeat Suzan Hogue and Darla Vincent in the women’s 4.0 doubles bracket.

Of the estimated 80 tennis players performing over the weekend, United States Tennis Association teammates Joe Garrity, Allen Laird, Dick Whitaker and Danny Huffines met in the men’s doubles finals. With a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Garrity and Laird in the 8.0 men’s doubles finals, Whitaker and Huffines relished their opportunity to gloat.

“Because we’re teammates, it makes it even nicer to beat these guys,” Huffines said, grinning.

Because they knew each other, jokes were tossed back-and-forth between serves, but the importance of the cancer tournament remained at the forefront of their minds. Whitaker said he lost his brother-in-law to cancer and took a moment in Saturday’s matchup to remember the reason everyone gathered.

“(Saturday), I was thinking about it because my wife’s family was in town yesterday,” Whitaker said.

Caroline Hungerford and Madeline Iles defeated Leanna Barfoot and Karen Dunaway to win the women’s 3.0 bracket.

Boatner Blankenstein and Kaiser defeated David McGraw and Mitch Rayborn to win the men’s open doubles bracket.

Kelly O’Brien and David Grant defeated George Mayers and Mattie Smith 6-3, 7-5 to win the mixed 7.0 doubles.

Rhonda Rayburn and Obie Watts defeated Lindy Farish and Malcolm Hall 6-4, 6-2 to win the mixed 6.0 doubles.

Robbie Clark and Cecelia Forman defeated Cynthia Brumfield and Lou Ellen Stout 6-7, 7-5, 1-0 to win the women’s 3.5 doubles.

Half of the estimated $4,000 proceeds will be given to Camp Rainbow, a foundation that provides free camping experiences for children who are cancer survivors.