“The US Open National Playoffs makes the US Open ‘open,’ where one woman and one man will earn a wild card into the US Open Qualifying Tournament and a chance to advance to the main draw,” said Lucy Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA.  “The fact that the US Open National Playoffs are supported by qualifying tournaments run by our sections makes this event even more unique, extending the reach of the US Open across the country.”

With the goal of connecting more people to the US Open and expanding the tournament’s reach to communities throughout the United States, players will compete in sectional qualifying tournaments hosted by 16 of the 17 USTA Sections nationwide.

The entry fee for each of the sectional qualifying tournaments is $125.  All players competing must have a current USTA membership valid through August 30, 2010.  Competitors can enter any of the 16 sectional qualifying tournaments, but they can only enter and compete in one sectional qualifying tournament.  Each sectional qualifying tournament is limited to 256 players, and players will not be seeded by any means.  Participants can be of any playing level, from aspiring novice to seasoned professional, giving everyone an equal opportunity to advance.

“While professionals are eligible to play, we expect the draws to be filled with top junior players, collegians, teaching professionals and even recreational players who will now have a chance to play themselves into the US Open for the first time,” said Jim Curley, Chief Professional Tournaments Officer & US Open Tournament Director.

Skier Bode Miller, a two-time overall World Cup champion, two-time Olympic silver medalist and three-time world champion, will compete in one of the sectional qualifying tournaments.

“Tennis has always been a part of my life,” said Miller, who won the 1996 Maine state singles title for Carrabassett Valley Academy and whose family owns the Tamarack Tennis Camp in Easton, N.H., which was founded by his grandparents.  “The US Open National Playoffs is a great concept and I look forward to playing in one of the sectional qualifying tournaments this spring.  It will give me an outlet to focus my competitiveness after the Olympics and World Cup season.”

Entry information and a schedule of US Open National Playoffs Sectional Qualifying Tournaments are available online at www.usopen.org.  Registration begins February 1.

Tommy Haas has swine flu

Tommy Haas has revealed that he has contracted the H1N1 “swine” flu and has pulled out of this week’s Swiss Indoors in Basel, Switzerland.

The world No 17 dropped out of the Stockholm Open last week after he felt he was suffering from flu. However, the German had tests and it was confirmed that he had contracted the H1N1 virus.

“I am quite relaxed because I know that swine flu is a particularly strong form of flu but when you are in a good physical condition like I am, then you can quickly beat it

Federer's Basel debut

In recognition for his results in Toulouse, Federer received a wild card entry into the Swiss Indoors, Switzerland’s biggest tournament, from tour­nament director Roger Brennwald. This tournament guaranteed him a prize money paycheck of at least $9,800. The tournament took place at St. Jakobshalle in Basel’s south side, within walking distance of Federer’s home in Münchenstein. This event, played originally in an inflatable dome in 1970, is one of the most important indoor tournaments in the world that almost every great player has played in. When a virtually unknown Czech player named Ivan Lendl defeated the legendary Björn Borg in the Swiss Indoor final in 1980, it garnered major headlines around the world. The 34th and final duel between John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors took place at the Swiss Indoors in 1991. Future world No. 1 Jim Courier won his first ATP tourna­ment in Basel in 1989. Stefan Edberg won the Swiss Indoors three times and Ivan Lendl won the title twice. Borg, McEnroe, Boris Becker, Vitas Gerulaitis, Goran Ivanisevic, Yannick Noah, Michael Stich, Pete Sampras and Guillermo Vilas are also champions of the event.

For Roger Federer, the Swiss Indoors is like a Grand Slam tournament. The St. Jakobshalle is the place of his dreams, like Centre Court at Wimbledon. In 1994, he was a ball boy at the event, grabbing balls for such players as Rosset, Edberg and Wayne Ferreira, who won the title back then. Now, four years later, he was a competitor in the event. His first-round match was against none other than Andre Agassi. In his youthful hauteur, Federer boldly stated “I know what I’m up against—as opposed to Agassi who has no idea who I am. I am going to play to win.”

But Agassi, the former No. 1 player ranked No. 8 at the time, was without question a larger caliber opponent than what Federer faced in Toulouse. Agassi allowed the hometown boy only five games in the 6-3, 6-2 defeat and said he was not overly impressed by the Swiss public’s new darling. “He proved his talent and his instinct for the game a few times,” the American said kindly. “But for me it was an ideal first round where I didn’t have to do all that much and where I could get accustomed to the new conditions.”

Roger Federer and Lindt

Roger Federer and Lindt & Sprüngli, a premium chocolate manufacturer in Switzerland, announced a long term deal where Federer will serve as the global brand ambassador of its brand Lindt chocolates.

Lindt & Sprüngli expressed its happiness in partnering with the 15-time major tournament champion.It confirmed that the contract details will be kept confidential. In the past 160 years, Lindt & Sprüngli has never associated its products with any celebrity. Association with Federer is sure to establish global presence of this premium brand chocolates in key market segments. Federer with his practical approach and pleasant disposition fits well as a global ambassador for Lindt & Sprüngli. Lindt & Sprüngli claims it to be a perfect match of No. 1 chocolate and No. 1 tennis star as Federer and Lindt both stand for ‘Swissness,’ ‘Premiumness,’ ‘Quality’ and ‘Passion.’

Ernst Tanner, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Lindt & Sprüngli, comments: ‘We are naturally delighted to be able to name Roger Federer, an exceptional and well-known Swiss icon, as our brand ambassador. Together with Roger Federer, we will become the foremost ambassadors for Swiss quality.’ And Roger Federer confirms this: ‘I am Swiss by birth, and since my childhood, I have always been a great fan of LINDT chocolate. I am very excited to partner with the global leader in premium chocolate and I enjoy their products and am very impressed with their plans for future growth.’

Lindt & Sprüngli has already launched a successful communication campaign based on Maîtres Chocolatiers. The Association with Federer is sure to enhance the company marketing efforts to set the global stage for Lindt range of premium chocolates.

To read more about Roger Federer, go to www.RogerFedererBook.com and order a copy of the Rene Stauffer-authored book on Federer, THE ROGER FEDERER STORY, QUEST FOR PERFECTION.

Roger Federer

Flash Entertainment, in partnership with Capitala, has announced six of the most prominent players currently competing in the world of professional tennis are set for a thrilling return to the Capitala World Tennis Championship.

Following last year’s successful tournament, the event has attracted a star-studded field with world number one Roger Federer and Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Nikolay Davydenko, Fernando Verdasco and Robin Soderling completing a spectacular line-up of the world’s top tennis players.

The Capitala World Tennis Championship will see the players in action across three spectacular days at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex at Zayed Sports City from 31 December 2009 – 2 January 2010.

Tickets for the event are on sale online at www.boxofficeme.com. Fans who buy their tickets before 31st October 2009 will have a chance to win a signed Roger Federer Wilson racket! Visit www.capitalawtc.com for more information.

As well as three days of spectacular tennis, the Capitala World Tennis Championship will also boast its very own Tennis Village which will include a range of fun and exciting activities including player signings and practice sessions, competitions and a Nintendo Wii wall. The Tennis Village is absolutely free and open to the public and for those who don’t get their hands on a ticket there will still be the opportunity to soak up all the atmosphere in the village and catch the live action on the big screens.

“It’s nice to go out and play well against really good players,” said Martin. “I felt good out there. I felt in a rhythm. I found a great feel for the ball.”

Todd Martin tops Andre Agassi

The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at Surprise is the seventh and final event on the 2009 Outback Champions Series. Martin’s victory was his first on the Series since he won in Naples, Fla., on March 16, 2008. Martin also won Outback Champions Series titles in 2006 in Boston and in 2007 in Newport, R.I. Last year in Surprise, Martin lost the championship match to John McEnroe by a 3-6, 7-6(3), 11-9 (Champions Tie-Breaker) margin.

Agassi, who earned $30,000 for the runner-up showing, was playing in his debut event on the Outback Champions Series. The event marked his first tournament appearance since he retired from his ATP career at the 2006 U.S. Open.

“I really enjoyed being here this week, with a lot of peers and familiar faces and the crowds were great,” said Agassi. “Three days in a row is a lot of tennis for me now. Hopefully I can improve next time.”

En route to the final, Agassi defeated Mikael Pernfors of Sweden 6-2, 7-5 on Friday night and Wayne Ferreira of South Africa 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon.

Martin took control of the match from the start, controlling points with a high percentage of first serves and aggressive play off his backhand side. After winning the first set 6-3, Martin broke Agassi in the second game of the second set and held for a 3-0 lead. Agassi had a chance to break back, holding triple break point at 0-40 with Martin serving at 4-2, but Martin was able to claw back and hold for a 5-2 lead. After Agassi held serve, Martin served for the title at 5-3, but was unable to close out the match as Agassi’s powerful returns kept him alive. Martin was then able to break Agassi’s serve at 5-6 and clinch the match, benefiting from an Agassi forehand error on match point.

Said Martin, “I felt that as long as I didn’t get carried away with my serve I was really going to have a good day.”

Martin and Agassi played their final 10 years after the two met in the men’s singles final at the 1999 U.S. Open, won by Agassi 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-2. Agassi won 13 of 18 matches against Martin during their ATP careers, Martin last winning in the quarterfinals of the Paris Indoor in 1998.

Said Agassi of his experience in Surprise, “This week exceeded my expectations. It was a lot of fun. This is a competitive tour and these guys take care of themselves. You’ve got to come ready to play.”

In the third-place match Sunday, Aaron Krickstein concluded a memorable week of tennis by defeating Ferreira 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 (Champions Tie-Breaker) to earn the $25,000 third-place purse. Krickstein upset Jim Courier in the first round of the event on Thursday night before losing to Martin in Saturday evening’s semifinals.

“It’s tough sometimes to come back and play the next day after you lose, especially a tough match,” said Krickstein. “But pride is always involved and you want to win.”

Pete Sampras won the opening event on the 2009 Outback Champions Series, defeating McEnroe in the final of the Champions Cup Boston in February. McEnroe won the second event of the year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, defeating Jim Courier in the final. Sampras won his second title of the year at the Del Mar Development Champions Cup in Los Cabos, Mexico, defeating Patrick Rafter in the final. Courier won his first title of the 2009 season in April at the Cayman Islands, defeating Jimmy Arias in the final. Pat Cash successfully defended his title on the grass courts at the Hall of Fame Champions Cup in Newport, R.I. in August, defeating Courier in the final. Courier won his second title of the season in Charlotte in September, defeating Sampras for the first time since 1997 by a 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 (Champions Tie-Breaker) margin in the final.

Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features some of the biggest names in tennis over the last 25 years, including Agassi, Sampras, McEnroe, Courier and others. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. The Outback Champions Series features seven events on its 2009 schedule with each event featuring $150,000 in prize money as well as Champions Series points that will determine the year-end Champions Rankings No. 1.

InsideOut Sports + Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including “Legendary Night” exhibitions, charity events, corporate outings and tennis fantasy camps such as the annual “Ultimate Fantasy Camp”. Through 2008, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment events have raised over $4 million for charity. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.

Todd Martin

The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at Surprise is the seventh and final event on the 2009 Outback Champions Series, the global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over.

Agassi jumped on Ferreira early and opened the match by breaking serve with a series of well-struck backhand returns. Agassi hit two aces in each of his next three service games and broke Ferreira again to close out the first set 6-3. Ferreira was able to break Agassi’s serve twice in the second set, but was unable to solidify his breaks with service holds and succumbed in straight sets.

“I was able to find my swing early which was really the key to the whole match,” said Agassi. “I served well and really was able to run away with the first set. I knew which shot I was going to hit and that’s such a huge difference to be able to do that. I played a few really good games to hold serve and things just got very comfortable.”

During their ATP careers, Agassi held an 11-0 career record against Ferreira, while losing only one set in their 11 meetings. Agassi’s final-round match with Martin will be a re-match of their five-set U.S. Open final 10 years ago in 1999.

Said Agassi of his 1999 U.S. Open win over Martin, “I think about that match a lot. It was a really good time in my life and that was a beautiful match.”

Martin needed only one service break to defeat Krickstein and advance into his 11th career Outback Champions Series final and his first of the 2009 season. After taking the first set in a tie-breaker, Martin registered the only service break of the match to take a 3-1 lead and held on to advance into the final.

“I served great tonight, especially in the tiebreaker,” said Martin. “He knows where I am vulnerable so serving well is important.”

Said Krickstein, “It was a one break match. Todd served extremely well and there’s not much you can do when that happens. He had 15 or 20 aces and was hitting a lot of corners. This match was all about the serve.”

Sunday’s order of play is as follows;
12pm
Wayne Ferreira vs. Aaron Krickstein – Third Place Match
Followed by
Andre Agassi vs. Todd Martin – Championship Match

John McEnroe won the inaugural event in 2008 in Surprise defeating Martin in the final. Ticket, travel and tournament information can be found by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.

Pete Sampras won the opening event on the 2009 Outback Champions Series, defeating McEnroe in the final of the Champions Cup Boston in February. McEnroe won the second event of the year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, defeating Jim Courier in the final. Sampras won his second title of the year at the Del Mar Development Champions Cup in Los Cabos, Mexico, defeating Patrick Rafter in the final. Courier won his first title of the 2009 season in April at the Cayman Islands, defeating Arias in the final. Pat Cash successfully defended his title on the grass courts at the Hall of Fame Champions Cup in Newport, R.I. in August, defeating Courier in the final. Courier won his second title of the season in Charlotte in September, defeating Sampras in the final.

Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features some of the biggest names in tennis over the last 25 years, including Agassi, Sampras, McEnroe, Courier and others. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. The Outback Champions Series features seven events on its 2009 schedule with each event featuring $150,000 in prize money as well as Champions Series points that will determine the year-end Champions Rankings No. 1.

InsideOut Sports + Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including “Legendary Night” exhibitions, charity events, corporate outings and tennis fantasy camps such as the annual “Ultimate Fantasy Camp”. Through 2008, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment events have raised over $4 million for charity. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.

Hall of Famer Bud Collins to present "The Miracle Man of Tennis, Dick Williams...Titanic Survivor"

Collins, whose book THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS is the definitive volume of tennis history, will deliver a lecture detailing the intriguing lives of Williams and Karl Behr, another Titanic survivor and a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 1969. The program will be held on Wednesday, October 21 at 6 p.m. Admission is complimentary for Hall of Fame members and $10 for non-members. Refreshments will be served. Reservations for the event should be emailed to programs@tennisfame.com or made via phone by calling 401-849-3990.

The lecture is sure to fascinate tennis fans and history aficionados alike, as Collins’ renowned story-telling skills take the audience through Williams’ extraordinary life. Born of American parents in Geneva, Switzerland, Williams was en route to the United States to focus on tennis when the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank. At the insistence of his father, who went down with the ship, Williams dived from the deck at the last possible moment, swam to a half-submerged lifeboat and clung there, in near-freezing water, for six hours. When rescued, a ship’s doctor advised amputation of his frozen-stiff, seemingly useless legs. Fortunately, Williams refused, and miraculously, only months later he was in the quarterfinals of the 1912 U.S. National Championships, eventually losing in four sets.

Two years later, Williams met Behr in the quarterfinals of the 1914 U.S. National Championships, which were then held at the Newport Casino, now the site of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. The athletes were greeted by a capacity crowd of nearly 4,000, and Williams won the match 6-1, 6-2, 7-5. He ultimately won the tournament, his first of two U.S. singles titles.

Williams went on to achieve top-ten world ranking in seven years between 1914 and 1925, and was ranked No. 1 in the United States in 1916.

For more information, please visit www.tennisfame.com

Andre Agassi poses with his wife Steffi Graff

The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Championships at Surprise runs Thursday through Sunday and will feature a field of eight champion players competing in a single knock-out format event for $150,000 in prize money and ranking points that determine the year-end No. 1 ranked player on the Outback Champions Series.

“It’s great to have an opportunity to get back on the court,” said the 39-year-old Agassi of playing on the global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over. “That’s the best part of tennis — to be out there and hopefully make a difference in the lives of fans for a couple of hours.”

Agassi is one of only six men in the history of tennis to win all four major singles titles in a career, joining Rod Laver, Don Budge, Roy Emerson, Fred Perry and Roger Federer. He won his first major title at Wimbledon in 1992, defeating Goran Ivanisevic in a dramatic five-set final. He won his first U.S. Open title in 1994, defeating Michael Stich in the final, and his second five years later in 1999, defeating Todd Martin in the championship match. He won four Australian Open titles between 1995 and 2003, while his victory at the 1999 French Open rounded out his career Grand Slam. Agassi ranked No. 1 in the world for 101 weeks during his career. He helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 1990, 1992 and 1995 and won 60 career singles titles from 1987 until he concluded his career at the 2006 U.S. Open. In 1994, Agassi started the Andre Agassi Foundation which is dedicated to transforming public education for underserved youth. He will be the eighth former world No. 1
to compete on the Outback Champions Series, joining Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Pat Rafter, Stefan Edberg, Mats Wilander, Thomas Muster and John McEnroe.

Born, raised and still a resident of Las Vegas, Nev., Agassi has had great success playing in the Phoenix, Ariz., area, winning four of his 60 titles in nearby Scottsdale in 1993, 1994, 1998 and 2002.

“Every time I’ve been to Arizona, I’ve loved it,” said Agassi. “I grew up in the desert. As a result, I’ve always felt very comfortable there. Some of my best memories are games played right in Scottsdale.”

Agassi and Pernfors will play their quarterfinal match the evening of October 9. Mark Philippoussis and Wayne Ferreira will open up tournament play on Thursday evening, October 8 at 7 pm with the winner playing the Agassi/Pernfors winner in the semifinals. Rounding out the field in Surprise are Americans Jim Courier, Todd Martin, Aaron Krickstein and Jimmy Arias. The order of play and tournament schedule is as follows;

Thursday, October 8th, 2009
Session #1 – 7:00pm
Quarterfinal #1 – Mark Philippoussis vs. Wayne Ferreira
Followed by Quarterfinal #2 – Jim Courier vs. Aaron Krickstein

Friday, October 9th, 2009
Session #2 – 7:00pm
Quarterfinal #3 – Todd Martin vs. Jimmy Arias
Followed by Quarterfinal #4 – Andre Agassi vs. Mikael Pernfors

Saturday, October 10th, 2009
Session #3 – 12:00pm
Men’s Doubles
Followed by
Semifinal #1 – Winner of Agassi/Pernfors vs. Winner of Philippoussis/Ferreira

Session #4 – 5:00pm
Men’s Doubles
Followed by
Semifinal #2 – Winner of Martin/Arias vs. Winner of Courier/Krickstein

Sunday, October 11th, 2009
Session #5 – 12pm
Third Place Match
Followed by
Championship Match

John McEnroe won the inaugural event in 2008 in Surprise defeating Martin in the final. Ticket, travel and tournament information can be found by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.

Sampras won the opening event on the 2009 Outback Champions Series, defeating McEnroe in the final of the Champions Cup Boston in February. McEnroe won the second event of the year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, defeating Courier in the final. Sampras won his second title of the year at the Del Mar Development Champions Cup in Los Cabos, Mexico, defeating Rafter in the final. Courier won his first title of the 2009 season in April at the Cayman Islands, defeating Arias in the final. Pat Cash successfully defended his title on the grass courts at the Hall of Fame Champions Cup in Newport, R.I. in August, defeating Courier in the final. Courier won his second title of the season in Charlotte, defeating Sampras in the final.

Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features some of the biggest names in tennis over the last 25 years, including Agassi, Sampras, McEnroe, Courier and others. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. The Outback Champions Series features seven events on its 2009 schedule with each event featuring $150,000 in prize money as well as Champions Series points that will determine the year-end Champions Rankings No. 1.

InsideOut Sports + Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including “Legendary Night” exhibitions, charity events, corporate outings and tennis fantasy camps such as the annual “Ultimate Fantasy Camp”. Through 2008, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment events have raised over $4 million for charity. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.