JULY 2012 CATCH A RISING STAR...TODAY! www.procircuit.usta.com SUCCESSES ABOUND ON 2012 PRO CIRCUIT he USTA Pro Circuit posted successes across the board in the first half of 2012, from the players to the tournaments and from sponsorship to cross-functional Tcollaboration. In all, the USTA Pro Circuit once again carried out its goal of devel- oping the next generation of world-class players—and delivered plenty of tennis fun to local communities throughout the country in the process. The men’s USTA Pro Circuit began the year with a tournament title from rising star Jack Sock—the 2010 US Open boys’ singles champion and 2011 US Open mixed doubles champion— and witnessed the impressive ascent of Brian Baker, who began the year ranked in the 400s and put a bow on June by advancing to the fourth round Brian Baker at Wimbledon to crack the Top 100. I N S I D E : In between, Tennys Sandgren established himself as a player to USTA PRO CIRCUIT HOSTS watch, winning three singles and three doubles titles on the USTA ANNUAL TOURNAMENT Pro Circuit to rise more than 250 spots in the world rankings. DIRECTORS WORKSHOP The women’s USTA Pro Circuit featured a few The USTA Pro Circuit staff hosted the Melanie rising stars of its own. Grace Min, the 2011 annual USTA Pro Circuit Tournament Oudin US Open girls’ singles champion, won three titles Directors Workshop April 27-29 at the in four finals in the first half of 2012, highlighted Hyatt Regency in Coral Gables, Fla. by a victory at the $50,000 event in Indian Harbour The theme of the gathering was Beach, Fla., to surge from No. 414 in the world “Back to Basics.” rankings to No. 169. Maria Sanchez also had a standout first half, claiming doubles titles (with Yasmin Schnack) at 10 AND UNDER TENNIS three events and winning the singles title at the $50,000 event in A HIT IN PELHAM Sacramento, Calif. In total, Min added 228 WTA points by Several hundred kids participated in playing on the USTA Pro Circuit and Sanchez added 200. 10 and Under Tennis demonstrations and clinics at an event held in conjunc- The USTA Pro Circuit also continued its close collaboration with USTA Player Development by utilizing the Pro Circuit to deter- tion with the $25,000 USTA Pro Circuit mine the USTA wild cards (one men’s, one women’s) awarded event in Pelham, Ala. for the 2012 French Open. Brian Baker and Melanie Oudin claimed those wild cards by earning the most ATP and WTA points, BRIAN BAKER TIMELINE respectively, at select clay-court USTA Pro Circuit events, and both Brian Baker jump-started his career on recipients used the wild cards to good measure, each advancing to the USTA Pro Circuit and vaulted into the second round at Roland Garros. This new format was such a the Top 100. Here’s a timeline of his success that it will be repeated this summer to determine one men’s remarkable ascent up the rankings. and one women’s wild card into the 2012 US Open. AROUND THE CIRCUIT page 2 F I R S T S E R V E S US TA Pro Circu it H osts Tourn a men t Directors Workshop The annual USTA Pro Circuit Tourna- ment Directors Workshop was held April 27-29 at the Hyatt Regency in Coral Gables, Fla., hosted by the USTA Pro Circuit staff. Attendees included tournament directors from the men’s and women’s Futures events ranging in prize money from $10,000 to $25,000. The theme of the workshop was “Back to Basics,” which covered a wide range of topics from securing part- nerships to court set-up. Tennis Channel Tallahassee’s 20th Highlights Backing the USTA 2012 Anniversaries Pro Circuit The Tallahassee Challenger in Tallahassee, Fla., celebrated Tennis Channel its 20th year on the UST A Pro has supported the Circuit in 2012, placing it among USTA Pro Circuit the longest-running c urrent and its endeavors USTA Pro Circuit events. this year, including a special “Court Tallahassee wasn’t the only Report” that fea- men’s event to cele brate a m ile- tured Jack Sock and Grace Min stone anniversary on the UST A during their runs at the Plantation Pro Circuit in 2012, with the Futures in Plantation, Fla., in Futures events in Harlingen, Harlingen Tournament Director Tallahassee Tourna ment Director January. The “Court Report” also Texas, and Tampa, F la., bein g Andy C arter and USTA Pro Karen Vogter and USTA Pro Circuit provided some background on honored for 10 years. Circuit Director Brian E arley Senior Manager Danielle Gooding the USTA Pro Circuit, including the number of events, prize money, participants and alumni. In addition, Tennis Channel has USTA Pro Circuit Adds New Features begun running scrolling USTA Pro to Website, Draw Sheets Circuit results on its ticker through- out the year, and the Tennis Channel The USTA Pro Circu it homep age on USTA.com has news production team has been added a couple of n ew featu res fo r 2012 , including added to the USTA Supervisor “Circuit Spotlight” and “Did You Know?” distribution lists for daily results and schedules. Every month, a new highlight will be sho wcased, whether it’s player- or tour- To cap things off, a link to the nament-related. In other Dallas Challenger’s live streaming USTA Pro Circuit house- was posted on TennisChannel.com keeping items, tourn ament and footage from the Challenger logos are now featu red w /procircuit in Savannah, Ga., was used for a www.itftennis.com on all distrib- # Seeded Players # Lucky Losers Replacing Draw date/time: 03 JUN 2012 15:36 Tennis Channel story on Brian 1 SANDGREN, Tennys 1 SANTIAGO, Mico GRAY, Will Last Direct Acceptance uted fact 2 OUELLETTE, Gregory JUNG, Jason 3 MCCLUNE, Michael Player representatives Baker. CNN International also used 4 TAKEUCHI, Kento Chris WETTENGEL sheets and 5 WOLMARANS, Fritz footage from Savannah for a piece 6 BENNETEAU, Antoine Signature draws. 7 BRITTON, Devin # Protected Ranking: Name it did on Baker.) 8 KING-TURNER, Daniel David LITTLEFIELD AROUND THE CIRCUIT page 3 USTA PRO CIRCUIT TOURNAMENT NEWS —WOMEN RANCHO MIRAGE RAISES MORE THAN $110,000 FOR CHARITY The Childhelp Desert Classic, the $25,000 event in Rancho Mirage, Calif., raised just over $110,000 in February during its signature fundraiser, the “Childhelp Desert Classic Fireside Chat,” which was moderated by Charlie Pasarell and featured five-time US Open champion Jimmy Connors. The fundraiser was organized by Tournament Director Lornie Kuhle and Co-Tournament Director Jackie Cooper. The proceeds benefitted the Childhelp Merv Griffin Village, a residential treatment center for abused children. Jimmy Connors and Charlie Pasarell The women’s event in Osprey, Fla., made a successful debut as a $50,000 event in March 2012. Shown above is presenting sponsor Rich Chojnacki, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, with champion Arantxa Rus. Tournament Director Erik Stenberg (left) promoted the USTA Pro Circuit event in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., to 2,000 attendees at a local trade show. The $25,000 event returned to the USTA Pro Circuit in March 2012 following a one-year hiatus. AROUND THE CIRCUIT page 4 USTA PRO CIRCUIT TOURNAMENT NEWS —WOMEN 10 AND UNDER TENNIS A HIT IN PELHAM Several hundred kids participated in 10 and Under Tennis demonstrations and clinics at an event held in conjunction with the $25,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in Pelham, Ala. The event took place in April at both the Valley Inter- mediate School in Pelham and the Pelham Racquet Club, which hosted the USTA Pro Circuit event. It was a true cross-functional effort on behalf of the USTA, involving multiple departments in the national office as well as section staff and countless volunteers. Professional players and teaching pros joined in the fun and offered tips on how to get started using the smaller courts, slower-moving and lower-bouncing balls, and lighter, shorter racquets of 10 and Under Tennis. Pelham, is, in fact, one of the USTA’s target markets for 10 and Under Tennis, meaning the USTA has invested time, money and resources into growing the initiative in this vital area. A USTA PRO CIRCUIT DOUBLE: TWO EVENTS IN ONE YEAR FOR WILLIAMSBURG In June, Williamsburg, Va., hosted its second $10,000 women’s clay-court event in less than one year, when Tournament Director Kevin Dry seized the opportunity to host a June date after Cleveland came off the calendar. Williamsburg also hosted a $10,000 event in October 2011. Previous winners in Williamsburg include 2009 champion Beatrice Capra, who the following year qualified and reached the third round of the US Open; Lauren Davis, who earned wild cards into the main draws of the 2011 Australian Open and the 2012 French Open; and Danielle Collins, a promising junior who went on to the win the 2011 National Spring Championships Anne-Liz Jeukeng (center) and a number of USTA Pro Circuit players took time out to visit the kids and stage a 10 and Under Tennis clinic at Central The Kingsmill Resort & Spa Manor Elementary School during the $10,000 in Williamsburg, Va. event in Landisville, Pa. NEW SACRAMENTO EVENT UNVEILS TOURNEY LOGO The new $50,000 event in Sacra- mento, Calif., held in May, unveiled its tournament logo. Here’s a look: AROUND THE CIRCUIT page 5 USTA PRO CIRCUIT TOURNAMENT NEWS —WOMEN HELLOS AND GOODBYES ON THE WOMEN’S USTA PRO CIRCUIT For 2012, the USTA Pro Circuit women’s calendar bids a fond adieu to the events in Atlanta; Boston; Cleveland; St.