Usta Pro Circuit Delivers in 2012
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DECEMBER 2012 CATCHATCH A RISING STAR...TODAY!STTAR...TODAAR...TODAY! www.procircuit.usta.comwww.procircuit.usta.com USTA PRO CIRCUIT DELIVERS IN 2012 L to R: Tournament Director Brad Bigando, Joplin Mayor Melodee Colbert-Kean, Tournament Director Marianella Padron and USTA Pro Circuit Director Brian Earley celebrate the return of tennis to Joplin, Mo.; Redfoo awards the winner's check to 2012 Las Vegas champion Lauren Davis. The USTA Pro Circuit continued to shine in the second half of 2012, delivering world-class INSIDE: tennis to communities across the country. For the first time, the USTA Pro Circuit sent two players directly into the main draw of the US Open. In collaboration with USTA Player Development, the final US Open men’s and “COOL FEATURES” A BIG PART women’s wild cards were determined through players’ results on the USTA Pro Circuit, OF THE USTA PRO CIRCUIT with college stars Mallory Burdette and Steve Johnson nabbing the honors. Both would As USTA Pro Circuit events seek to improve the player and fan experience, they have use their wild cards to good effect, with each player advancing to the third round in introduced a series of new and fun features Flushing Meadows. at their tournaments. In all, the USTA Pro Circuit was well-represented at the US Open. Three USTA Pro Circuit COMMUNITY OUTREACH A BIG players advanced to the main draw after receiving wild cards into qualifying: Samantha PART OF THE USTA PRO CIRCUIT Crawford, Bradley Klahn and Rhyne Williams, with Klahn becoming the first qualifying wild Giving back to the community is a hallmark card ever to win a round in the men’s singles draw and Crawford following her showing in of the USTA Pro Circuit. In 2012, examples qualifying by going on to win the junior girls’ singles title. The USTA Pro Circuit also made a included the $10,000 Futures event in splash at the 2012 Olympic Games, with Pro Circuit graduates taking home armfuls of Edwardsville, Ill., and the Fifth Third Bank medals, including all six in the inaugural mixed doubles competition. Tennis Championships in Lexington, Ky. On the women’s USTA Pro Circuit, Las Vegas had a rockin’ 2012, thanks to new presenting GOLDWATER TENNIS CLASSIC sponsor Redfoo of the hit band LMFAO, and Redding, Calif., and Troy, Ala., joined the PARTNERS WITH MENTORING growing list of events that have spent 10 years or more on the USTA Pro Circuit. PROGRAM In 2012, the Goldwater Tennis Classic Among the men’s events, Joplin, Mo., made a triumphant return to the USTA Pro Circuit affiliated with the nonprofit Elevate Phoenix, following a one-year absence as a result of the devastating 2011 tornado, and the Challenger a mentoring program for inner-city youth. in Aptos, Calif., celebrated a quarter-century on the USTA Pro Circuit calendar. AROUND THE CIRCUIT page 2 FIRST SERVES “Cool Features” a Big Part of the USTA Pro Circuit As USTA Pro Circuit events seek to improve the player and fan experience, they have introduced a series of new and fun features at their tournaments. Here are just a few that were seen this year: • This summer, the Odlum Brown VanOpen at the Hollyburn Country Club in Vancouver, Canada, which features a $100,000 men’s Challenger and a $100,000 women’s event, used a speed gun so fans could see how fast players were serving. • Also in June, the Florida Beer Company Pro Tennis Tournament, a $10,000 Futures event, used digital signage to post the daily order of play at the Kiwi Tennis Club in Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. • The $50,000 women’s tournament in Yakima, Wash., Vancouver, hand-painted the USTA logo on the door to the Canada Bronx, N.Y. clubhouse of the Yakima Tennis Club. • Prior to the US Open, the EmblemHealth Bronx Open, the $50,000 event in the Bronx, N.Y., hosted the Bronx Honor Guard. • There was a flash mob at the Rock Party Open in September, the $50,000 women’s event in Las Vegas hosted by Redfoo of the hit band LMFAO. • A tournament flag bearing the event's logo was created for the Futures of Mansfield Men’s $15K at the Walnut Creek Country Club in Mansfield, Texas, and waved proudly below the American flag during Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. the October event. • At the $15,000 Chico Futures event, which was played in June at the Chico Racquet Club & Resort in Chico, Calif., the tournament’s merchandising included a stainless steel tumbler with the USTA Pro Circuit logo. Yakima, Wash. Mansfield, Texas Chico, Calif. Las Vegas With approximately 90 tournaments hosted annually throughout the country and prize money ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, the USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the US Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis players and a frequent battleground for established professionals. The USTA launched its Pro Circuit 33 years ago to provide players with the opportunity to gain professional ranking points, and it has since grown to become the largest developmental tennis circuit in the world, offering nearly $3 million in prize money. Last year, more than 1,000 men and women from more than 70 countries com - peted in cities nationwide. Mardy Fish, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, Caroline Wozniacki, James Blake, Li Na and Andy Murray are among today’s top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit. AROUND THE CIRCUIT page 3 FIRST SERVES Live Streaming Provides Increased New Addition Skip Gilbert Ex posure for U STA Pro Circu it Visits Pro Circuit Events Thanks to a new deal that provides free, live streaming of matches, USTA During the second half of 2012, Skip Gilbert, the new Pro Circuit men’s Challenger events now have a worldwide audience— USTA Managing Director, Professional Tournament along with increased visibility and exposure. Operations and US Open Tournament Manager , visited several men’s and women’s tournaments to The USTA licensed the inter - learn more about the USTA Pro Circuit. national digital rights for streaming, which began with Among his stops in October were the $25,000 Rock nine Challengers in 2012 and Hill Rocks Open at the Rock Hill Tennis Center in which will continue through - Rock Hill, S.C., the $75,000 Goldwater Classic in out 2013. With matches now Phoenix and the $100,000 Tiburon Challenger in available on a global plat - Tiburon, Calif. form, relatives, coaches and fans have access to watch Also in October, Gilbert attended his first Player their favorite players from Development-Pro Circuit Calendar Planning anywhere in the world. Meeting, held annually in Boca Raton, Fla., with the USTA coaching staff. The free, live streaming, which is available at procircuit.usta.com, made its debut at the $50,000 LG&T Tennis Challenger in Binghamton, N.Y., this past July and continued through the JSM Challenger in Champaign, Ill., in November. Coverage of main draw matches on the tournament’s main courts includes three camera angles, an on-site commentator and scoreboard graphics. Select matches on a second court use a fixed camera and a score feed. Left to right: Tedi Doncheva, Skip Gilbert and Rock Hill Tournament Director Kim Ozmon Pro Circuit Challengers to Try Out “No Let” Rule Coming in January, the men’s Challenger events on the USTA Pro Circuit will be part of the ATP’s trial of the “No Let” rule, an alternative method of play ap - proved by the Rules of Tennis. The “No Let” rule— which states that a serve that touches the net, strap or band is in play—will be in effect on a trial basis at all Challenger events for the first three months of 2013. During the trial period, the ATP will provide survey sheets to players competing at each Challenger to solicit their feedback. (All players were advised to practice without the let during the offseason.) The Legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri poses with USTA Pro Circuit national staffers Brian Earley, Scott Hausthor and Danielle Gooding at the site of his tennis academy, IMG trial will be reviewed in March and a decision will Academy. IMG Academy hosted the final event of the 2012 USTA Pro Circuit season, a then be made whether to continue the trial period. men’s $10,000 Futures, and is exploring hosting a women’s event in 2013. AROUND THE CIRCUIT page 4 USTA PRO CIRCUIT TOURNAMENT NEWS—MEN JOPLIN MAKES INSPIRING RETURN After a one-year absence, the $10,000 USTA Pro Circuit men’s Futures tournament made an inspiring return to Joplin, Mo., in July. The event was canceled last year due to the damaging effects of the devastating tornado that hit the area in May 2011. To kick off the event, the USTA Pro Circuit worked in coordination with USTA Missouri Valley to host a press conference announcing the return of the tournament. Among those invited to attend was the mayor of Joplin, Melodee Colbert-Kean, who used the press conference to announce that the week of the 2012 tournament would also double as “Tennis Week” in Joplin. In turn, the USTA invited Colbert-Kean and one of the tournament’s ball kids to attend the 2012 US Open, where they conducted the coin toss at the beginning of the Night Session and afterward joined USTA President Jon Vegosen for dinner in the President’s Box. As professional tennis was welcomed back, the USTA was happy to be part of Joplin’s recovery. Net proceeds from the event were donated to the Children’s Miracle Network to assist local Joplin children, and a “Community Day” featuring 10 and Under Tennis, tennis drills, games and prizes also took place during the tournament.