VOLVO CAR OPEN PARTNERS WITH SUNTRUST TO OFFER JUNIORS 15 AND UNDER FREE TICKETS TO TOURNAMENT
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. – The Volvo Car Open tennis tournament has continued its mission to grow the game of tennis. For the third year in a row, the WTA Premier event has partnered with SunTrust to offer juniors, 15 and under, free admission all week into the Volvo Car Open, April 1 – 9, 2017, in Charleston, SC on Daniel Island.
“We want the name Volvo Car Open to be synonymous with growing the game of tennis,” said Bob Moran, Volvo Car Open Tournament Director. “We value our partnership with SunTrust to offer juniors unparalleled and complimentary access to our tournament. We hope to touch the lives of thousands of youth and inspire the next generation of tennis players and fans. This is possible because of SunTrust’s commitment to our tournament. Through this program, together we’ve already provided nearly 20,000 youth access to an international, world-renowned tennis tournament.”
“This is our 10th year supporting the community through our partnership with this world-class event, and we are incredibly proud to be able to inspire the next generation to reach for their dreams,” said Mark Lattanzio, SunTrust Region President. “It’s how we live our purpose to Light the Way to Financial Well-being for our clients and communities. And it helps us share the onUp movement to start a conversation about how financial confidence can put them on the right track to achieve their dreams.”
SunTrust will also sponsor the City of Charleston’s Tennis in the City event, an annual one-day inner-city youth tennis clinic held at the Jack Adams Tennis Center in downtown Charleston during the Volvo Car Open. Since its inception in 2003, this event has made a profound impact on thousands of local, Charleston children. This occasion brings WTA tennis players, tennis pros, as well as high school and college teams together to introduce the game of tennis to local children, in turn helping them learn basics of the game in an exciting environment.
Complimentary junior tickets can be redeemed via www.VolvoCarOpen.com, by calling 800.677.2293 or via the Box Office, located at 161 Seven Farms Drive Charleston, SC 29492.
About the Volvo Car Open:
The Volvo Car Open is North America’s largest women’s only tennis tournament. The event, formerly known as the Family Circle Cup, moved to Charleston, S.C., in 2001 from Hilton Head Island, S.C., and will celebrate its 45th tournament in 2017. The Volvo Car Open welcomes more than 90,000 spectators each year. The tournament features a singles draw of 56 players, a qualifying draw of 32 players and a doubles draw of 16 players. The tournament is owned and operated by Charleston Tennis, LLC, a subsidiary of Meredith Corporation, publisher of Family Circle. For more information on the Volvo Car Open, visithttp://www.VolvoCarOpen.com, call (800) 677-2293, email info@volvocaropen.com, Facebook (Volvo Car Open), Twitter (@VolvoCarOpen) or Instagram (VolvoCarOpen).
Annabel Fogleman as Kiki Mladenovic (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)
My Daughter Is Going as @KikiMladenovic for Halloween Tonight Steve Fogleman, Tennis Atlantic
My 8-year-old daughter Annabel has been watching a lot of WTA tennis with me over the years, and she’s met a few players while at Citi Open. She surprised me last month when she told me that she wanted to be Angelique Kerber for Halloween. I said, “That’s great, honey, but some people won’t know who you are. Don’t worry about that.”
I realized I unleashed a beast with my words when she did an about-face last week and decided to the be the tennis player she really loves the most: Kiki Mladenovic. Annabel cheered for her while watching the Olympics. She screamed for Mladenovic and #1 doubles partner Caroline Garcia while watching Singapore.
I tried to talk her down.
“Honey, no one will know who you are.”
That won’t stop a kid from wanting to be her all-time favorite for Halloween.
Annabel Fogleman as Kiki Mladenovic (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)
Truth is, my daughter has a little French in her on my wife’s side and she likes to display it proudly. I took her to Guadeloupe last January and now she thinks that it’s perfectly acceptable to bring a baguette to the beach.
A lot of Baltimoreans will learn about world #42 Kristina Mladenovic for the first time tonight.
VOLVO CAR OPEN PARTNERS WITH SUNTRUST TO OFFER JUNIORS 15 AND UNDER FREE TICKETS TO TOURNAMENT
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. – The Volvo Car Open tennis tournament has continued its 2015 mission to grow the game of tennis. For the second year in a row, the WTA Premier event has partnered with SunTrust to offer juniors, 15 and under, free admission all week into the Volvo Car Open, April 2 – 10, 2016, in Charleston, SC on Daniel Island.
As an added bonus, every junior who receives complimentary tickets to attend the tournament is eligible for a free clinic with MWTennis Academy, an instructional tennis organization based out of the Family Circle Tennis Center. Redemption for the free clinic will be located at the SunTrust booth in the fan area. Kids who sign up for the free clinic Tuesday through Sunday will receive a complimentary deck of Shine Bright Kids Financially Bright Conversation Cards from SunTrust, limited while supplies last.
“We saw great success last year when we initially partnered with SunTrust to offer juniors unparalleled access to our tournament,” said Bob Moran, Volvo Car Open Tournament Director. “It’s our collective goal to inspire the next generation of tennis players and fans, and by giving children the opportunity to be exposed to an international, world-renowned tennis event, we feel that our nine-day tournament can become the catalyst for a lifelong love affair with the sport. None of this would be possible without SunTrust’s commitment to grow the game of tennis.”
“At SunTrust, we’re proud to celebrate our 10th year serving our clients in the Charleston region, and the 9th year of our partnership with this world-class tennis event,” said Mark Lattanzio, SunTrust Region President. “We’re pleased to be a part of this community and event, and through the onUp movement, help our clients and neighbors take steps toward financial confidence.”
SunTrust will also sponsor the City of Charleston’s Tennis in the City event, an annual one-day inner-city youth tennis clinic held at the Jack Adams Tennis Center in downtown Charleston during the Volvo Car Open. Since its inception in 2003, this event has made a profound impact on thousands of local, Charleston children. This occasion brings WTA tennis players, tennis pros, as well as high school and college teams together to introduce the game of tennis to local children, in turn helping them learn basics of the game in an exciting environment.
Complimentary junior tickets can be redeemed via www.VolvoCarOpen.com, by calling 800.677.2293 or via the Box Office, located at 161 Seven Farms Drive Charleston, SC 29492. To sign-up for a free lesson with MWTennis Academy, visit the SunTrust booth on-site during the tournament, located on Sponsor Row.
Great Time to be a Kid: Free Admission All Week @FamilyCircleCup
Kids Free All Week!
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. – The Family Circle Cup tennis tournament has made its 2015 mission to grow the game of tennis, starting with its junior fans. In partnership with SunTrust, kids 15 and under will receive free admission all week to the Family Circle Cup, April 4 – 12, 2015, in Charleston, SC on Daniel Island. In addition, every junior that takes advantage of the free ticket will be provided one free lesson from MWTennis during the year at the Family Circle Tennis Center.
“It’s important for our tournament to create a program to inspire juniors to get out and play the game of tennis, and to expand that relationship beyond the nine days of the tournament,” said Bob Moran, Family Circle Cup Tournament Director. “We want the Family Circle Cup and the Family Circle Tennis Center to become a vehicle for kids to fall in love with the sport all yearlong. SunTrust continues to be a fantastic partner to the Family Circle Cup and the Charleston community. This gesture shows how committed they are to making a difference.”
“At SunTrust, we are proud of our partnership with the Family Circle Cup for eight years,” said Mark Lattanzio, SunTrust’s Charleston Region President. “This youth outreach initiative to expand tennis participation in the Lowcountry is important as a way to help encourage the health and well-being of the future generations of our community. Not only will the junior players have a chance to enjoy and learn about tennis at the tournament, but the financial support to them is impactful.”
Free junior tickets can be redeemed via http://www.FamilyCircleCup.com or at the Box Office. To sign-up for a free lesson with MWTennis, visit the academy’s booth on-site during the tournament.
Sitting directly across from King’s Island, made most famous to me by the Brady Bunch episode back in 1973, it’s an awesome childhood-induced feeling to look out on Center Court from the glass-enclosed, air-conditioned Media Center perched atop Center Court and catch a match.
I had no idea, simply no idea, the size of this tournament nor the size of the grounds nor the hordes of teeming fans who trek from Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and more distant places to attend this event every year.
It’s only fitting that the Cincinnati Masters is held with an amusement park in the background, because this is a theme park of all the best of tennis–from the ravenous autograph seekers to the unprecedented access those same fans have to the players. The practice courts are the envy of the nation, as die-hards get a front row view of the world’s top 10 as they warm up every day.
Don’t get me wrong: It still lacks the intimacy of the smaller tournaments on the tour. It will never be Newport or Washington, but it is clearly the Indian Wells of the East.
Sorry, Miami.
Maybe even better than Indian Wells itself, because of its immediate relevance to the US Open.
It is not without some problems, most notably the glaring traffic infrastructure failures. It is exceptionally well-attended and there is no such thing as mass transit here, so the only way in and out is by car or hotel shuttle.
There was a four mile backup on Interstate 71 when I drove in Tuesday morning, and it took over an hour to get two miles to a parking space. The Western & Southern Open’s impact on traffic is so pronounced that it actually creates a reverse-commute jam. When day-sessioneers leave the parking lots and head back toward Downtown at 6:00 p.m., it’s madness all the way there heading south, while the northbound lanes heading out of Downtown Cincinnati are relatively empty.
And another thing–people here drive safely. If you’re an I-95er like myself, that can be dangerous. Everyone from the East Coast should be diagnosed with some degree of road rage compared to Buckeye motorists. When Ohioans stop at a stop sign, they really stop. For like 10 seconds. No ‘California Roll’ here. Be advised.
I spoke with many fans this week who drove as many as 18 hours to attend this tournament and have no intention of attending the US Open. Two told me that the expense of traveling to and staying in New York was a big disappointment since they spent more time waiting in lines and looking for celebrities.
It makes sense. For me, the biggest draw of the US Open is its relative proximity to the rest of the Mid-Atlantic, about a 3 1/2 hour drive for me from Baltimore. It’s twice as far to the Western & Southern Open, but instead of the pushiest fans on the continent, everyone is well-behaved, the concessions are more reasonable, and there are a variety of non-frightening lodging choices nearby that deliver a big bang for the buck. Most importantly, there’s no Queens here. Instead of auto body shops, ‘dodgy’ motels and a creaky subway above, there’s a water park, golf courses and the Faux Eiffel Tower of King’s Island overhead.
The New York press grumbled about the lack of high-end dining options all week, as I’m told they always do, but there were more than enough choices, especially for folks who spend 16(!) hours each day at a tennis tournament.
The Food Court options were impressive, with several local restaurants and caterers serving up amazing dishes.
‘But Where Will We Eat?’, They Say
Speaking of amazing, one gauge of the lack of gouge at the concessions was the Skyline Chili booth–‘The Official Chili Of The Cincinnati Reds and the Western & Southern Open’. After Maria Sharapova dodgily pooh-poohed the ‘3way’ on Monday, I raced to a Skyline drive-through and got the Cincy-famous dish for $5.54.
At the Skyline Food Court location on tournament grounds, the same chili, spaghetti and cheddar cheese combo ran me $7.00. Impressively Populist. I love it.
Fan Protip: You can buy a can–a whole can–of used match Penn ATP/WTA tennis balls for $1. That’s right. $.33333 for each match-used ball with the Western & Southern logo stamped thereon. You have to keep asking every day, and it’s one can per person, per day.
Best fandom deal in pro tennis. Cash Only. Ask daily at the tournament’s information booths, because supplies are extremely limited.
And here’s a Fan Protip: If you’re buying upper-level tickets, try the 320s. From there, you can use the restrooms below which are adjacent to the interview rooms used by the players and media. A steady stream of players come and go from there for interviews. If you’re a ticket-holder in the 320s, you’re also entitled to ride the elevator up to your seat. That elevator is often packed with players early in the week. It’s also a gruelingly-slow ride, and it stops at the players lounge, the interview level and the upper deck, giving you plenty of time to chat with players in the elevator.
The list of positives grew even longer when I stopped in at the Great Wolf Lodge to visit my good buddy, @Tennis_Shots, who was the only single guy with no kids to ever check into this indoor water park and wizardry-themed fun fest filled with kids in PJs running with magic wands illuminating crystals all evening throughout the hotel.
That’s when I realized–this is way, way better a family vacation with high-caliber tennis than the US Open will ever be in a million years.
I know I was only here for five days, but this is a drastically better experience than Flushing Meadows for serious tennis fans and families. Let me put it this way. New York is a distraction and a pain when your only objective is to enjoy slam-style matches with your loved ones.
Even a seasoned New York tennis correspondent agreed with my premise off the record: If you want to visit New York, then visit New York. But for all the US Open tennis without the New York Hustle, visit the Western & Southern Open.
And that brings me to Arthur Ashe Kids Day. I don’t think he would even want his name associated with that event at this point because there’s no tennis involved with that particular off-day at the Open. No qualies or anything remotely resembling competitive pro tennis. Just a gaggle of on-court celebs who know very little about the sport. And I should know because I interviewed her on the hallowed Courts of Ashe for two seconds.
You can’t fake family, US Open. The attendees at the Western & Southern Open ARE FAMILY, and you can’t hold a candle to them.
Take notes, USTA. Next year, I think I’ll head out Route 70 and skip the hot mess that you so fancifully hype.
Alright, maybe I’ll go to USO qualies, but that is it. 🙂
(Disclaimer: The USTA owns 80% of the Western & Southern Open. The other 20% is Pure Magic.)
.@KeiNishikori Hits With Citi Kids @CitiOpen & Press Conference Video
Kei and Citi Kids (Photo: Susan Hornyak)
Today, Citi, title sponsor of the 2014 Citi Open® Tournament, hosted a fun-filled Citi Kids program in collaboration with the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF), a premier educational and tennis organization for underserved children in Washington, D.C. The event featured the World Ranked No. 11 ATP Star of Japan, Kei Nishikori, who was joined by 50 children from the WTEF.
Later, at his press conference, Nishikori described the improvements to his game, his pride at the induction of mentor Nick Bollettieri into the Tennis Hall of Fame and where he wants to go from top 10.
Kei and Citi Kids (Photo: Susan Hornyak)
Kei Nishikori is the only Japanese tennis player to be ranked inside the top 10 in ATP Singles Rankings. This year, Nishikori made it to the final of the Madrid Open, his first masters-level championship final, and the fourth round of Wimbledon. Kei Nishikori shared his inspirational experiences on Tour, as well as advice on staying focused while pursuing both academic and athletic success, with the children from the WTEF.
Developed by Citi, Citi Kids is an educational and motivational community-based initiative for students located in the Washington, D.C. area. As the tournament’s benefactor, the WTEF is instrumental in identifying ways to ensure the continual athletic and educational success of its members, and Citi strives to aid to these efforts throughout the year.
Award-winning Junior Tennis Champions Center Fitting Backdrop For Young Talent Search Steve Fogleman, Tennis East Coast
Yesterday, the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland hosted its 15th annual Tennis Day to evaluate local children for summer camp scholarships at their USTA award-winning facility.
I’ve been to dozens of kids tennis events, but this one is so different. Kids are always sizing up adults, but the tables turn in this tennis fun house.
This is the time JTCC coaches take a look at the local crop of kids, some of whom might possess that obvious gift. It may be speed, coordination, strength or a combination thereof, but if they like what they see, the child is invited to the Center’s summer camp program at no cost to parents.
It’s like an old Yakov Smirnoff joke. In my country, people watch tennis. At Junior Tennis Champions Center, tennis watch you.
The younger kids are completely oblivious that they are being judged on their performances at the various drills set up on court at the College Park Tennis Center.
As a parent, it’s great to get a free assessment on your kids potential abilities in tennis. It’s easy to gauge results, too.
I saw a tiny 4-year-old run faster than most 5-year-olds, including my daughter, yesterday.
And that’s probably the best part of an event like this one. You’re almost certain one of these cute, little kids will be an NCAA champion someday or play at the professional level.
And you just don’t know which one yet, but you’re excited for that kid. And you’re excited for the ones who will attend the JTCC camps.
To get trained at a place like this, with coaches like these, is such an enormous blessing.
And keep your eye out for participant #202. She will probably never play pro tennis, but she might ‘commentate’ on it someday. Likely on ESPN9, when that channel is launched in 2028.
The French Open starts this weekend. Every year, I see a huge spike in players on local courts right around this time. The combo of the tennis-friendly weather and the subliminal messages the brain sends while watching pros play tennis from Paris seems to act as a catalyst to get off the couch and personally hit some balls. This year, when your brain gets that urge, both you and your small fry might decide to improve your skills close to home. Holabird Sports Tennis Camp at UMBC powered by Babolat is a great option for adults and children in the Baltimore Area.
The adult camp is an evening program from June 24-27. The juniors camp has openings for the June 23-28, July 7-12, July 14-19 and July 21-26 programs.
The juniors camp has been in existence for years. Last year, Holabird Sports took on the naming rights and sponsorship with partner Babolat. For twenty years prior to that, Adidas sponsored the camp at UMBC.
Sol Schwartz of Holabird Schwartz is proud of the camp and Holabird’s sponsorship.
The secret weapon of the camp is certainly the coaching staff, led by former pro Rob Hubbard, who has spent over 30 years coaching after an ATP career and stellar college career at the University of Texas Pan-American . Hubbard is a Calvert Hall graduate and a Baltimore native. He serves as Head Coach of the Men’s and Women’s Tennis programs at UMBC.
Rob was one of my coaches growing up, recalls Schwartz. Rob was coached as a tour player by Lenny Scheurmann. When Lenny started a tennis camp, he brought Rob in. Rob is a gift to any kid who wants to play college tennis.
What makes Rob unique is the experiences that he’s had in the game from a playing standpoint, from a teaching standpoint and a coaching standpoint. He’s got every base covered that a parent who wants to put their kid in a program would want running it.
A kid that’s playing in college still has it in the back of their mind that one day they might go pro. Rob’s been there. From a mechanics standpoint, he can break down any stroke any time to any level and repair it.
Between Coach Hubbard, Oliver Steil, and Robin Hubbard, Rob’s spouse, the camp is loaded with top-notch instructors. Steil is the Assistant Coach at UMBC and a former Division I player at the University of Texas Pan American, while Robin Hubbard was a nationally-ranked player at North Texas University. On top of that, Schwartz himself will offer instruction at the adult camp.
Instructing kids and adults presents different challenges, and the coaches are prepared to give them what they want and what they need.
Schwartz mentioned that “the whole thing with teaching adults is they expect different things out of a lesson. Their primary goal may be to get a workout and the technical side second.”
The 5:1 Instructor to Student ratio also allows for numerous breakout 1-on-1 lessons for each player’s particular needs.
Last year, a wide range of players from their early twenties to their early sixties participated in the adult camp. As Schwartz notes, “age doesn’t dictate performance.”
The juniors camp now has full-day, half-day, extended-day and overnight programs, with the minimum participation age of 6 and 9 for extended day and sleepover options.
Kids can be hard to keep focused, so the day is broken up to maximize the fun and the concentration. The morning is virtually all drills and cardio, with a focus on match play in the afternoon. A 90-minute lunch break is offered each day as a way to cool down and make friends.
The range of experience of the youngsters varies widely and all are encouraged to play, and Schwartz notes that last year, “we had extreme beginners and juniors with a national ranking”.
The camp uses adult balls and nets, a personal sticking point of Schwartz’s. “Real-sized everything”. But he does defer to Coach Hubbard to use any equipment he see fit.
The max enrollment is 36 kids and 30 adults to maintain a 5:1 student/instructor ratio.
For more information, click on the logo at the top of this post.
Next week, I’ll tell you about the best tennis camp the D.C. area has to offer.
USTA SMASHZONE MOBILE TOUR TO VISIT DICK’S SPORTING GOODS
IN BUFORD ON SATURDAY FROM 11 A.M. TO 7 P.M.
Interactive Fan Attraction to Introduce Tennis to
Youth and Families across the Nation
BUFORD, Ga., (May 9, 2013)–The United States Tennis Association (USTA) SmashZone Mobile Tour continues its 22-city tour run this weekend when it visits the Buford Dick’s Sporting Goods Store (3333 Buford Drive) this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
SmashZone introduces youth tennis to kids and parents across the country and began as the premier fan interactive attraction at the US Open before being showcased across the country. Since its inception in 2011, SmashZone has attracted more than 2 million people to its tennis courts.
SmashZone is a way to showcase tennis in a fun and interactive way by making stops at fairs, festivals, airshows, retail environments and city centers.At SmashZone,children have the opportunity to play tennis games in a fun, festive atmosphere that allows participants to get active playing tennis from the start.
“The SmashZone Mobile Tour is a great platform to bring tennis to the masses through an interactive experience,” said Kurt Kamperman, USTA Chief Executive, Community Tennis. “It provides an opportunity for kids to try tennis for the first time, allowing them to experience the fun and excitement that comes with playing the game.”
The SmashZone Mobile Tour includes a 53-foot trailer, which anchors four kid-sized tennis courts for youth play. Courts will feature games such as Xerox Rally Court, racquet drills and activities, as well as a Target Challenge. The trailer itself, which is handicap accessible, will feature activities for visitors that will include a Tennis Magazine Green Screen Cover Shoot, Wii Tennis and Touch Screen Kiosks. SmashZone Mobile is a complement to the USTA’s successful youth participation initiative, 10 and Under Tennis.
10 and Under Tennis is an ongoing effort to encourage young people to get active by playing tennis. The initiative uses modified equipment and courts tailored to a child’s age and ability. By featuring shorter and lighter racquets, slower-bouncing balls, smaller courts and simplified scoring, children learn to play more quickly and easily while having more fun in the process.
USTA SMASHZONE AT ASIAN FOOD & TENNIS IN DC AREA THIS WEEKEND
US Open’s Premier Fan Interactive Attraction to Introduce Tennis to Youth
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., July 17, 2012 – The USTA announced today that the SmashZone Mobile Tour, the premiere fan interactive attraction, will be part of the Asian Food & Tennis Festival this Saturday and Sunday, July 21-22, on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., with operating hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You have no excuses. No Racquet Required!
SmashZone Mobile Tour engages audiences by introducing them to the game in a fun and interactive way by makings stops at fairs, festivals, and air shows. Children will have the opportunity to play tennis games and it will allow participants to get a racquet in their hand from the start.
The Asian Food and Tennis Festival is the largest Asian Festival in the Mid-Atlantic area and features unique music, cultural performances, food, and entertainment to promote greater understanding of Asian countries and cultures. This year’s festival theme is “The Year of Dragon”.
SmashZone Mobile includes a 53-foot trailer, which anchors four kid-sized tennis courts for youth play. Courts which will feature games such as Xerox Rally Courts, Esurance Sweet Spot and a Target Challenge. The trailer itself, which is handicap accessible, will feature interactive activities for visitors that will include video game kiosks featuring Mario Tennis Open for the Nintendo 3DS, a TENNIS Magazine Green Screen Cover Shoot, and Touch Screen Kiosks.
SmashZone Mobile is a complement to the USTA’s ongoing youth participation initiative, 10 and Under Tennis. 10 and Under Tennis is part of an effort to encourage young people across the country to get moving and start playing tennis.
The 10 and Under Tennis initiative is geared towards getting more kids to take part in tennis using modified equipment and courts tailored to a child’s size. By featuring shorter and lighter racquets, slower-bouncing balls, smaller courts and simplified scoring, children learn to play more quickly and easily while having more fun in the process.
“We are thrilled to have the SmashZone Mobile Tour provide an opportunity for thousands of children to experience tennis for the first time,” said Kurt Kamperman, USTA Chief Executive, Community Tennis. “The tour will introduce our 10 and Under Tennis program which is a wonderful approach to ensure children build confidence in their skills while having fun and leading a healthy lifestyle.”
Tennis Atlantic 