Hall-of-Famer Tracy Austin to Server as Special Consultant for USTA Player Development

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., February 19, 2009 – The USTA announced today that tennis Hall-of-Famer and two-time US Open Champion Tracy Austin will serve as a special consultant for USTA Player Development.  Austin will assist in the coaching of female players at the USTA’s West Coast Training Center in Carson, Calif., and will report to Patrick McEnroe, General Manager, USTA Player Development.

“This is a very exciting announcement for our Player Development initiative,” said McEnroe.  “Tracy has a wealth of knowledge and experience at her disposal, and being able to work with someone who remains the youngest-ever winner of the US Open will be invaluable for our female players as they continue with their own growth and development.”

Austin, 46, of Rolling Hills, Calif., was a rising star in professional tennis before injuries cut short her career.  She won the US Open in 1979 at age 16, making her the youngest-ever US Open winner, and in 1980, she became the youngest player to ever attain the world No. 1 ranking.  She won her second US Open title in 1981, and also won the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 1980.  Austin was a member of the U.S. Fed Cup title-winning teams from 1978-80 and finished her career with 30 singles titles.  After a series of injuries, Austin retired from professional tennis in 1994, and in addition to her broadcasting duties, holds multiple tennis clinics each year.  In 1992, she became the youngest inductee into the International Tennis Hall of Fame at age 29.

The new USTA Player Development unit has been created to identify and develop the next generation of American champions by surrounding the top junior players and young pros with the resources, facilities and coaching they need to reach their maximum potential.  The Player Development program is based at the USTA Training Facility in Boca Raton, Fla., and also utilizes the USTA West Coast Training Center in Carson, Calif.  Last year, the USTA announced its first two Certified Regional Training Centers, in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., as part of its expanded efforts to develop future American tennis champions.  The USTA expects to name approximately ten more Regional Training Centers over the next five years.