Suffolk was once a force with which to be reckoned on the tennis court.

For six consecutive years in the late 1950s and early 60s, Suffolk High School produced one state tennis champion after another.

The tennis program lapsed long ago, but with numerous public and private tennis courts and high-caliber instructors teaching in the city, there are those who can see the possibilities for the sport.

“When Suffolk was two square miles, everyone used to ride their bicycles to the tennis courts, which are now the parking lot behind the Suffolk Center for the Cultural arts,” past Suffolk High School coach Bill Peachy said. “That is what we would do during the summer. To have it be the focal point it once was probably won’t happen, but there is a great deal that could be done to bring it back into more prominence.”

It doesn’t take a 20-player team or expensive equipment, but it does take courts, instructors, tournaments and community support.

“There are more tennis courts here than there have ever been,” Suffolk tennis enthusiast Harry Cross said. “All the high school courts are lighted. The facilities are here for a strong program.”

While the tennis program isn’t what it once was, the Parks and Recreation Department now offers youth, teen and adult lessons through November, hosts round-robin tournaments and “is trying to get tennis back to where it used to be,” said Jason Jones Parks and Recreation.

Instructors are also working in Suffolk middle and high schools to help increase the size of their programs, as well, Jones said.

Three years ago, the department brought in an independent firm, which failed to establish a program, but left behind one of its instructors, Jan Talian.

Talian, a native of the Czech Republic, received a tennis scholarship for Farris College, where he let his racquet speak for itself. He ranked first in doubles, third in the nation in singles and for four years won the All-American title.

When the company he was working with came to and left Suffolk in 2007, he stayed.

“There is a strong generation of players, many of the children in [Suffolk tennis legend Howard] Mast’s program are parents, and they want to get their kids or grandkids involved in the sport,” Talian said. “The foundation has been laid, and as an instructor, I’d like to be a part of bringing the tennis program back to its past glory.”

Part of that initiative would include bringing tournaments, which were once commonplace, back to the city, according to Cross, who grew up during the tennis glory days.

In fact, Talian owns the rights to two of those tournaments, which he hopes to grow in coming years, he said.

With the facilities, talent and tournaments readily available, it’s the community support that is needed.

“Tennis doesn’t have that community support it once had,” Peachy said. “It would take a combined effort with the Parks and Recreation Department to take an initiative to regenerate and reorganize interest in the tennis organization. It takes the organization of parents and people in the community.”