ENTRY DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2017, 11:59PM EST LONGINES FUTURE TENNIS ACES hosted by the City of Delray Beach 5th year event will send boys’ winner to Paris to represent U.S. against international field January 18, 2017 Contact: John Butler, (561) 350-6795, [email protected] Delray Beach, FL—For U.S. Boys playing in the 12’s, The Longines Future Tennis Aces hosted by the City of Delray Beach offers an opportunity to represent the “stars and stripes” amongst an international group of peers. For the 5th consecutive year, the elite Swiss watchmaker has partnered with Players International Management (PIM), sister company of the Delray Beach Open ATP Tour event, on their Longines Future Tennis Aces on the Road to the French Open series of tournaments. As the Official Timekeeper at Roland Garros, Longines is hosting 16 qualifying tournaments throughout the world for boys 12 and under with the winner of each national tournament advancing to the final Longines’ Future Tennis Aces event in Paris during the French Open. Grand Prize: Winner will represent the United States against 15 qualifiers from other nations and receive a once-in-a-lifetime, all expenses paid (travel, accommodations, food for them, plus a parent/guardian) trip to Paris, France Monday, May 29-Sunday, June 4, 2017! The 2017 United States leg will be played in Delray Beach February 25 and 26 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center during the Delray Beach Open ATP World Tour event . As home to ATP World Tour and ATP Champions Tour events, Fed Cup and Davis Cup matches and USTA National Championships and a history that includes Tier 1 WTA events and international junior Sunshine Cup and Maureen Connolly Brinker Cup team competition, the tennis center has seen its share of meaningful matches. “I remember playing in the 12’s and getting my first opportunity at a big prize and traveling the world to play tennis. It really is a big deal. And these kids will be representing the US when they land across the ocean. Longines has created an incredible opportunity” said Ivan Baron, Tournament Director and former #1 ranked junior in the world. This premier tournament will field a boutique-style draw of eight elite 12-year old (and under) competitors who will be divided into two groups of four playing in a round-robin format. Round-robin matches will be played Saturday, February 25 starting at 9:00AM with the winners of each group playing Sunday, February 26 at 9:45AM for the title and the all-expenses paid trip to Paris. All matches will be played at the downtown tennis center on Atlantic Avenue (exit 52 on I-95) and are FREE to the public to watch with a paid ticket to the Delray Beach Open. To register: http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments Eligibility requirements: Participants must be born after June 5, 2004 Round-robin groupings will be announced Wednesday, February 22. continued Complete tournament information, including groupings, schedule and results can be found at the following: http://www.yellowtennisball.com/longines/ . Members of the media interested in covering the event or interviewing players should contact John Butler at 561- 350-6795. Pictures attached of 2016 Delray Beach champion, Nikki Yanez (Sarasota, FL), holding the trophy at Delray Beach Tennis Center and in-action in Paris. Partners - Longines - City of Delray Beach - USTA About Longines: Longines has been based at Saint-Imier in Switzerland since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. Longines has generations of experience as official timekeeper of world championships and as partner of international sports federation. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd , the World’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 140 countries. About The City of Delray Beach : In the southeast corner of Palm Beach County on the Atlantic seashore, a Village by the Sea that began as an agricultural community in 1895 has become one of Florida's most popular destinations for visitors, new families and seasonal residents. The City of Delray Beach encompasses slightly over 16 square miles with a permanent population of nearly 65,000 and growing. Renewal and re-development efforts have resulted in recognition as the All-America City in 1993 and 2001, the Blue Wave designation for clean and beautiful beaches, and hailed by city planners around the nation as a model for growth management. In 2012 during the nationally televised "Best of the Road" special, Delray Beach was chosen by Rand McNally, USA Today and the Travel Channel as the "Most Fun Small Town" in America. In 2014, USA Today also named it as one of the "Best Atlantic Beaches in Florida." .