CONTACTS
Dodie Hanchett, Tournament Chairman: dhanch10sc@aol.com
Holly Goddard, USTA Southern Director of Adult Tennis: Goddard@sta.usta.com
Dene Owen, Event Coordinator, USTA Southern: Owen@sta.usta.com
Media Contact – Ron Cioffi, USTA Southern Director of Communications: Cioffi@sta.usta.com
Rudy Lewis, Local Tournament Chairman: 205.942.1822, tenniszyx@aol.com
WHAT
Accredited as the “world’s largest tennis tournament” with over 2,000 players in 2008.
Competition among the South's best men's and women's teams in adult and senior divisions (approximately 200 teams total). Twenty teams will be crowned sectional champions and progress to the USA League Tennis National Championships for their level.
WHO
Over 2,000 USTA League recreational tennis players in 24 divisions (Men’s & Women’s 2.5,3.0,3.5,4.0,4.5,5.0,5.5 & Open) and (Senior Men’s and Women’s 2.5,3.0,3.5,4.0,4.5) from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee who have won their respective divisions at the state level.
WHEN
Play for levels 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and Seniors 4.0 and 4.5 begins Saturday, July 25 and ends Tuesday, July 28, 2009. Daily team matches begin at 8:00 a.m. Play for levels 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, Open and Seniors 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 begins Thursday, July 30 and ends Sunday, August 2, 2009.
WHERE
Wynfrey Hotel is the official host hotel. Captains meeting, player parties and tournament headquarters will all be hosted at this premier property.
Registration for the1st half will begin at 4:30, July 24, and the captains meeting will follow at 6:00p.m Registration for the 2nd half will begin at 4:30, July 29, and captains meeting will follow at 6:00p.m.
MATCH FORMAT
Adult divisions play two singles and three doubles, except the 2.5, 5.0 and 5.5 & Above levels, which play one singles and two doubles. In the senior division (50 + years), three doubles matches are played. In full draws, two groups of five teams compete in round robin play with the winner of each group advancing to the finals. In total, 430 team matches (1,626 individual matches) will be played.
SCORES
Scores will be posted on the Internet during the tournament on this web site.
Dear Team Captain:
Congratulations to your team for earning the opportunity to compete at the world’s largest tennis tournament, the 2009 USTA League Southern Section Championships!
Your team is to be congratulated for an outstanding season this year as earning the right to compete at this event is considered quite the achievement! Over 18,000 players competed at our nine state championships with 2,000 players advancing to these Championships. Just over 200 players will advance to the National Championships in Palm Springs or Tucson representing over 100,000 participants in USTA Southern.
The next step on the road to becoming a national champion is the USTA League Southern Section Tournament, which will take place in Birmingham, Ala. July 25-August 2.
The men and women 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and senior 4.0, 4.5 will compete July 25-28.
The men and women 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, Open, and senior 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 will compete July 30-August 2.
Many thanks, to the Birmingham Host Committee for all of their work in providing a tremendous event both on and off the courts.
Your team is sure to enjoy the camaraderie and competition on the courts as well as the amenities, facilities and Southern charm found in beautiful Birmingham!
The largest recreational tennis program in the world began right here in the South in Atlanta, Ga. in 1978 with 100 participants. Growing from 100 to 100,000 players in the South over twenty-five years is an amazing success story. We also believe that we have barely realized our potential to utilize league tennis as a vehicle to promote and develop the growth of tennis.
Good luck to your team and the USTA Southern staff looks forward to seeing you at the 2009 USTA League Southern Section Championship!
A not-for-profit organization, the USTA is divided into 17 sections, of which the USTA Southern Section is the largest. The 167,000+ USTA members living in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee make up the USTA Southern Section, which accounts for more than 25% of the total USTA membership. A professional staff housed in Norcross, GA carries out the USTA Southern Section’s daily operations, but policy is formed and much of the organization’s work is executed via a Board and committee structure of over 200 volunteers. For more information about the types of programs and services offered by the USTA Southern Section go to their website at www.southerntennis.com.
