First Half Winners Crowned at Championships

Next stop for winning teams is Nationals in the Fall

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – July 28, 2009 – Ten teams from USTA Southern have advanced to the national championship round of the largest adult recreational tennis league in the world by winning the 2009 USTA League Southern Section Championships, held this weekend in Birmingham, Ala. Teams emerging victorious are:

An additional 1,000 players will be arriving in Birmingham on Wednesday, July 29 to compete in the second half of the championships, which starts on Thursday, July 30. Including first half play, over 2,000 players will have participated in the championships. In full draws, two groups of five teams competed in round robin play with the winner of each group advanced to the finals.

This year’s event has drawn the top 200 teams from throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The teams, which represent various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations, have finished at the top of their local leagues and are now vying for a chance to represent USTA Southern at the USTA National Championships in the fall.

Matches were played at nine sites in the Birmingham area.

USTA League Tennis was established to provide adult recreational tennis players throughout the country with the opportunity to compete against players of similar ability levels. Players participate on teams in a league format, which is administered by the USTA through its 17 Sections. Men’s and women's team competition starts with the 2.5 division (beginner) and moves up to the 5.5 level (advanced). Adult division teams play two singles and three doubles matches, except for the 2.5, 5.0 and 5.5 levels, which instead play one singles and two doubles matches. In the senior division (over 50 years of age), teams will compete in levels 2.5 through 4.5, and play three doubles matches.

The championship teams will represent the Southern Section at the USTA League Tennis National Championships, where the No. 1 recreational tennis team in the country will be crowned in the various adult and senior skill levels. The national championships are being held in the following locations:

Established in 1980, USTA League Tennis has grown from 13,000 participants in a few parts of the country in its first year, to over 585,000 players across the nation today, making it the world’s largest recreational tennis program. There are over 100,000 adult and senior players in the Southern Section. The program is open to women and men 19 years of age and older. Players from over 100 cities in the nine Southern states experience the team camaraderie and intense competition as play progresses through local, state, and sectional play, culminating in a national championship for each skill level in the fall.

The 2009 tournament is presented by the USTA Southern in cooperation with strong local volunteer support. Penn Racquet Sports is in its 21st year as official ball of USTA League.

This year marks the 28^th anniversary of the USTA League. Established in 1980, it has grown from 13,000 participants in a few parts of the country in its first year, to over 625,000 players across the nation today, making it the world’s largest recreational tennis program.

The USTA League was established to provide adult recreational tennis players throughout the country with the opportunity to compete against players of similar ability levels. Players participate on teams in a league format, which is administered by the USTA through its 17 Sections. The league groups players by using six National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) levels, ranging from 2.5 (entry) to 5.0 (advanced). USTA League is open to any USTA member 19 years of age or older. It features Adult and Mixed Doubles divisions, as well as a Senior Division (age 50) and a Super Senior Division (age 60).