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TENNIS CHANNEL OPEN = OPPORTUNITIES FOR USTA MEMBERS

Thanks to the City of Las Vegas and the Darling Center our City has sponsored and attracted one of the best professional tennis tournaments a community can get, the TENNIS CHANNEL OPEN, March 3-9. Not only do we see Lleyton Hewitt, Bryan Brothers, Mirat Safin, Thomas Johansson, Fernando Gonzalez (World No. 7), Marcos Baghdatis and Guillermo Canas up close, but Las Vegas is featured year round on the only 24/7 all Tennis TV Network.

Cities all over the world would give just about anything for this kind of exposure and inspirational shot in the arm, but due to the efforts of the City Council, spearheaded by Councilman Larry Brown, Mayor Goodman and Las Vegas events, our City gets to be the center of what has become one of the tennis industries main events.

In its third year the event has really picked up speed, with the USTA-Intermountain and USPTA Section choosing the tournament as the backdrop to its annual meeting. According to USTA-Nevada Executive Director Ryan Wolfington more groups are coming in from out of state, making this an annual pilgrimage, bringing players from tennis clubs to watch professional tennis.

Holger Nichol, the past President of USTA-Intermountain section, is once again bringing down a group from Boise to be ball kids, and word of their good time last year got around to many other states in the section, who will be bringing players down this year and some competing in a junior competition being organized by Rob Meriman and Saad Ashraaf, the new head of junior development at the Darling Center.

"There are so many benefits to having pros in your backyard, just seeing that level of play, having Wayne Bryan come down and inspire the community, not to mention the great economic impact it has on the city, it is priceless for tennis in Las Vegas," explained Wolfington.

The 2008 Tennis Channel Open will continue the "Tennispalooza" tournament theme in place since the event's Las Vegas debut in 2006. Fans will again be treated to a festival atmosphere of tennis and other entertainment activities in addition to the men's tennis competition. This includes women's and juniors tournaments, collegiate tennis, unique "SHOTGUN-21" qualifier format, paddle tennis, platform tennis, air hockey, foosball, table tennis, live performances, and "Fabulous Las Vegas Night," among other things. Go to www.TennisChannelOpen.com for information.