DECEMBER 2013 CATCHATCH A RISING STAR...TODAY!STTAR...TODAAR...TODAY! www.procircuit.usta.comwww.procircuit.usta.com USTA PRO CIRCUIT CELEBRATES ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR In 2013, Bradley Klahn (at far right) and Shelby Rogers (inset) earned the most ranking points by all Americans on the USTA Pro Circuit. Both players also received a wild card into the singles main draw at the 2013 US Open by winning the US Open Wild Card Challenge during the summer swing of USTA Pro Circuit events. The USTA Pro Circuit closed INSIDE: 2013 with a stellar second half of the year, once again providing American players USTA PRO CIRCUIT PLAYERS POST with excellent opportunities STRONG SHOWINGS AT US OPEN to transition to the highest American men and women who have levels of the sport. competed regularly on the USTA Pro Circuit scored victories in the singles As a result of the Wild Card main draws of the 2013 US Open. Challenge—a series of several t men’s and women’s hard-court s a E y a LIVE SCORING NOW AVAILABLE AT events held over the summer— R ALL USTA PRO CIRCUIT EVENTS the USTA Pro Circuit was able to send Bradley Klahn and Shelby Rogers, who nearly all of them scored victories at Flushing Allowing fans to follow USTA Pro Circuit earned the most ranking points at these Meadows in the singles main draws. matches from around the world, the events, into the singles main draws of the Live Scoring feature is now being made 2013 US Open. As it turned out, Klahn and On the USTA Pro Circuit, live scoring was available at all USTA Pro Circuit events. Rogers also wound up as the top point made available from every event, making earners among American players on the it possible for tennis fans to keep track of USTA HOLDS ANNUAL PLAYER entire 2013 USTA Pro Circuit. their favorite players via the internet. Live DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS streaming from select events also made it The staff of the USTA Pro Circuit At the US Open, Klahn and Rogers were easier for fans to follow all of the action Department conducted its annual joined by a dozen young American men as the USTA Pro Circuit in 2013 once planning meetings with USTA Player and women who have also competed again delivered world-class tennis to Development in October. regularly on the USTA Pro Circuit—and communities across the country. AROUND THE CIRCUIT page 2 FIRST SERVES USTA Pro Circuit Players USTA Pro Circuit Staff Earn US Open Wild Cards Members Celebrate During the summer, players competing on the USTA Pro Circuit had the Anniversaries opportunity to earn a singles main-draw wild card for the 2013 US Open. For the second straight year, USTA Player Development awarded a wild card to Two USTA Pro Circuit staff members are celebrating an American male and female player who earned the most ATP World Tour notable anniversaries this year. USTA Pro Circuit and WTA ranking points in a series of USTA Pro Circuit hard-court events. Director Brian Earley, who saw the beginning of the USTA Pro Circuit, celebrates 30 years with the The men’s series consisted of the following events: USTA, while USTA Pro Circuit Senior Manager Danielle Gooding is celebrating her 15th-year • $50,000 Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger, anniversary with the USTA. Binghamton, N.Y.–July 15 • $50,000 Fifth Third Bank Championships, Lexington, Ky.–July 22 Congratulations to Brian and Danielle. • $100,000 Odlum Brown VanOpen presented by Invesco, Happy Anniversary! Vancouver, Canada–July 29 A T S • $100,000 Comerica Bank Challenger, Aptos, Calif.–August 5 U / d y o l F e k i The women’s series consisted of the following events: M • $50,000 Yakima Regional Hospital Challenger, Yakima, Wash.–July 8 • $50,000 Oregon Challenger in Portland, Ore.–July 15 • $50,000 Fifth Third Bank Championships, Lexington, Ky.–July 22. Ranking points from two of the four men’s events and from two of the three women’s events were used and combined to calculate the point total to determine the US Open wild-card recipients. If a player competed in more than two events, only his or her two best tournament results were counted in calculating the point total. Tennis fans followed the race for the US Open wild card as each USTA Pro USTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Circuit event was streamed live on www.procircuit.usta.com. Officer Gordon Smith (left) helps Brian Earley celebrate 30 years with the USTA. Live Scoring Now Available at All USTA Pro Circuit Events The always-popular Live Scoring feature is now available at all USTA Pro Circuit Events. In addition to following live scores of USTA Pro Circuit matches from around the world, tennis fans also have access to a variety of features which enhances their ability to follow matches and tennis events on the internet The Live Scoring feature also includes scores of all completed matches, live draws and match schedules. There are also links to purchase tickets and official tournament websites. AROUND THE CIRCUIT page 3 FIRST SERVES USTA Holds Annual Player Development Meetings in Florida The USTA annual Player Development Staff Meetings took place in October at the USTA Training Center Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla. The opening session on October 7 covered the staff’s vision for Player Development and was kicked off by USTA Chairman, CEO and President Dave Haggerty; Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer Gordon Smith and Player Development General Manager Patrick McEnroe. The strategic planning process for 2014 was discussed during the meetings. Iron Chef Cook-off Builds Team Spirit The annual USTA Player Development staff meetings took place at the USTA Training Center—Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., in October. After a full day of meetings with USTA Pro Circuit staff, USTA Player Develop - ment hosted an Iron Chef cook-off at Hugh’s Culinary, with the group divided into teams to work together in an effort to produce a winning meal. The cook-off produced a fun-filled—and very tasty—exercise in team building. AROUND THE CIRCUIT page 4 FIRST SERVES New Web Streaming Commentator Has Ties to USTA Pro Circuit Mike Cation had worked as a Press Aide for the $50,000 JSM Challenger of Champaign-Urbana, which is played at the Atkins Tennis Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. When a position for a tennis commentator with knowledge of the USTA Pro Circuit and the players became available on the web streaming telecasts of USTA Pro Circuit events, Cation was the obvious choice. A 1998 graduate at the University of Illinois, Cation began his new job in July at the $50,000 Nielsen Pro Tennis Championship at the A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center in Winnetka, Ill. During this year’s web streaming telecasts of USTA Pro Circuit events, tournaments have utilized commercial time during changeovers to promote sponsors. USTA Pro Circuit Highlight Show Airs on Tennis Channel The premiere of the USTA Pro Circuit Highlight Show— “Home of Tennis' Future Stars”—airs on Monday, December 30, at 7:00 p.m. ET on Tennis Channel. The program will be hosted by Justin Gimelstob, Tracy Austin and Paul Goldstein. The rebroadcast schedule is still in the process of being finalized, although Tennis Channel will continue to air the show up until the end of January. AROUND THE CIRCUIT page 5 USTA PRO CIRCUIT TOURNAMENT NEWS — MEN FUTURES EVENT SCORES BIG WITH ACES FOR AUTISM A very special event took place during the $10,000 Revolution Technologies Pro Tennis Classic, held at the Kiwi Tennis Club in Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. On June 15, the clay-court tournament hosted the fourth annual “Aces for Autism” Tennis Clinic to support the Scott Center for Autism Treatment’s Social Skills Program at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Fla. The free tennis clinic was open to children ages 5-15 who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and their siblings. In addition to the tennis clinic, participants watched the semifinals and enjoyed drinks, snacks and a free T-shirt. In addition, proceeds from the Futures event also benefited the Scott Center for Autism Treatment. Seventh-seeded Jesse Witten captured the singles championship, as he defeated fellow American Frank Mitchell, 6-1, 6-4, in the final. AMELIA ISLAND MAKES TRIUMPHANT RETURN After a one-year hiatus, the $10,000 Amelia Island Men’s Futures Championships returned on June 15-23 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Racquet Park in Amelia Island, Fla. Children played a big part in this year’s clay-court event. A well-attended Wilson Kids’ Day was held on June 15, providing children ages four and older with the opportunity to experience 10 and Under Tennis. During the free two-hour event, children also enjoyed lunch, met tournament players, received autographs and a free T-shirt, and watched matches on Stadium Court. In addition, the tournament benefited the Boys and Girls Club of Nassau County; on the final day, Tournament Director Scott Colebourne presented a $1,500 check to Bill Gower, president of the Boys and Girls Club of Nassau County. Seventh-seeded Dennis Novikov cap - tured the singles title as he scored an ex - citing 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over qualifier Jarmere Jenkins in an All-American singles final. AROUND THE CIRCUIT page 6 USTA PRO CIRCUIT TOURNAMENT NEWS — MEN APTOS OFFERS NAPA VALLEY STAGES CAL DAY WHEELCHAIR CLINIC During its inaugural tournament, the $50,000 Napa Valley Challenger designated Sep - tember 24 as “Cal Day” to honor the University of California at Berkeley men’s tennis The $100,000 Comerica Bank Challenger, program and its head coach, Peter Wright.