Forest Hills Clay Court Classic Opens at West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills, NY, $50,000 USTA Men's17 May 2006
The Forest Hills Clay Court Classic & Jazz Festival (May 13-20), a men s $50,000 USTA pro-circuit event opens today with Main Draw play at the historic New York City club that was the home of the first US Open.
The $50,000 USTA pro circuit event serves as a tune-up for players heading on to compete on the clay courts of Roland Garros in Paris. Admission to the men s tournament is FREE through the semi-finals (Friday, May 19). Admission to the finals competition (Saturday, May 20) is $10 for the day.
"We re delighted to welcome the men back for the May Forest Hills Clay Court Classic and we re also looking forward to having 16 of the finest women tennis players in the world with us in late August for the WTA tournament," said Dina Ingersole, tournament director for the Forest Hills Tennis Classic Series. (The West Side Tennis Club will also host The Forest Hills Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Event and Jazz Festival August 22-26 on hard courts in the historic West Side Tennis Club Stadium.)
"The caliber of play gets better every year, said Ms. Ingersole. "In 2005, James Blake (currently ranked #9 in the world) captured the Clay Court title and he is now ranked among the top 10 players in the world."
Jack Leibler, president of The West Side Tennis Club called the return of The Forest Hills Clay Court Classic and Jazz Festival "tremendous news for The West Side Tennis Club and for the City of New York. The success of these last years proves that there is a tremendous appetite for professional tennis here in New York."
In addition to FREE admission to the tournament through the semi-finals competition May 13-19, there will also be free jazz performances during the weeklong Forest Hills Clay Court Classic & Jazz Festival.
On Saturday, May 20, at noon, before the 12:30 pm start of the men s clay court competition, the Baseline Wheelchair Tennis Foundation will present a special exhibition of wheelchair tennis. Spectators will see two of their finest junior wheelchair players in the world, who will have just returned from the World Cup championships in Brazil, where they represented the United States.
Adding to the excitement of Finals Day, all tennis fans who come to see the finals competition will have the chance to win two round-trip tickets on American Airlines and become the American Airlines Lucky Fan!
The USTA funds the 96 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S, awarding nearly $3 million in prize money. In 2004, the USTA acquired a sanction from the WTA to hold the August women s event at The West Side Tennis Club. The USTA, in turn, licensed the event to The West Side Tennis Club to stage during the same week of the Pilot Pen Championships in New Haven and the US Open Qualifying Tournament.
In 2003, professional tennis returned to the former home of the US Open for the first time since 1990 when The West Side Tennis Club hosted The Forest Hills Classic, a USTA Pro Circuit Men s $50,000 Challenger. The tournament was the final major clay court event in the United States before the French Open. Miami s Alex Bogomolov, Jr. won the event, which featured former French Open champion Michael Chang.
Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Event Featuring 16 Top Women Players, August 22-26
This summer, for the third year, The West Side Tennis Club will host a second pro tournament, the Forest Hills Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Classic & Jazz Festival, a tune up for the US OPEN, August 22-26. This $75,000 professional women s tournament will feature 16 of the top 80 women players in the world. It will be played on The West Side Tennis Club s hard courts in the club s historic stadium. Fans of women s tennis will also be able to enjoy more cool jazz performances from area musicians provided once again by New York City area high school jazz ensembles.
"This level of play is what New York area sports fans can look forward to when the come to The West Side!" She went on to say, "last August, more than 1,500 fans crowded the stadium to see Indian tennis star Sania Mizra (now ranked #41 in the world) compete in the finals. It was a very exciting day and a close match as Lucie Safarova (currently ranked #31) of the Czech Republic won the title."
The West Side Tennis Club
Home to the US Open until 1977, The West Side Tennis Club hosted the US Open on grass until 1974 and the only three years the event was held on clay (1975-77). The US Open became a hard court event when it moved to the USTA National Tennis Center in 1978. The West Side Tennis Club was also the home to the US Championships until 1990.
The Forest Hills Clay Court Classic & Jazz Festival and The Forest Hills Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Classic & Jazz Festival are sponsored by American Airlines -- The Official Airline of both tournaments, CD101.9 Radio, G.H. Mumm Champagne -- The Official Champagne of both tournaments, Loriet Tennis Apparel, Marriott Fairway Villas at Seaview, Panasonic, Queens Ledger Newspapers, United States Tennis Association, and Wilson. The West Side Tennis Club is hosting both events.
The West Side Tennis Club is currently home to over 800 members, maintaining 39 courts on four different surfaces. Anchored by its history, its famous stadium and familiar Tudor clubhouse, The West Side Tennis Club maintains a majestic setting and a tranquil oasis for premier tennis in the heart of New York City.
To learn more about The West Side Tennis Club log on to www.foresthillstennis.com,
or call 718.268.2300
Tamara Ketler
TMK Sports & Entertainment, LLC
203-531-3047
tamara@tmksande.com
www.foresthillstennis.com
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