USTA Opens Registration for 13 U.S. Open National Playoff Sectional Qualifying Tournaments

March 15, 2012 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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The USTA has announced that registration for all 13 U.S. Open National Playoff Sectional Qualifying Tournaments has opened Thursday, March 15. Players age 14 and older can register for singles competition and/or mixed-doubles. Registration deadlines for the 13 sectional qualifying events vary by tournament. This year, the U.S. Open National Playoffs also have a new presenting sponsor in playtennis.com.

The U.S. Open National Playoffs, presented by playtennis.com, returns for a third year as a series of sectional qualifying tournaments, held in 13 of the 17 USTA Sections throughout the country. The 13 men’s, women’s and mixed doubles champions from each sectional qualifying tournament will advance to the U.S. Open National Playoffs–Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles and Mixed-Doubles Championship. All three tournaments will be held in conjunction with the New Haven Open at Yale presented by First Niagara, an Emirates Airline US Open Series event. The U.S. Open National Playoffs–Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles Championship will be held August 17-20. The U.S. Open National Playoffs–Mixed Doubles Championship will be held Aug. 22-25.

The U.S. Open National Playoffs men’s and women’s singles champions earn a wild card into the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament, held the week prior to the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open National Playoffs mixed-doubles champions receive a main draw wild card into the 2012 U.S. Open.

Registration for each of the 13 sectional qualifying tournaments is available at USOpen.org/NationalPlayoffs. The entry fee for each of the sectional qualifying tournaments is $100 for singles and $120 for each mixed-doubles team ($60 per player). All players competing must have a current USTA membership valid through August 27, 2012.

Registration for the U.S. Open National Playoffs is held in conjunction with the USTA’s launch of March Into Tennis, a month-long drive to get more kids playing the sport. Just as tennis players can register for the US Open National Playoffs, Youth Registration Events are being held to allow parents to sign-up their children for spring and summer tennis programs at local tennis facilities and youth serving organizations nationwide. Throughout the month, a record 1,400 USTA youth tennis events will take place across the country through the registration events, Play Days, and Kids’ Tennis Clubs.

“The U.S. Open National Playoffs presented by playtennis.com provide players with such a unique chance to play on one of tennis’ biggest stages—the U.S. Open,” said Jeff Ryan, U.S. Open National Playoffs Tournament Director. “We are excited that registration is kicking off today for all tournaments and expect players of all ages and playing levels to come out and begin their quest to fulfill their tennis dreams.”

A player may only enter and compete in singles and/or mixed-doubles at one sectional qualifying tournament during a calendar year. Players competing in men’s singles or women’s singles and mixed doubles may opt to compete at different sectional qualifying tournaments for each event (one for singles and one for mixed doubles). The draw size at each sectional qualifying tournament will be a maximum of 256 for each singles event and a maximum of 128 teams for mixed-doubles. Participants can be of any playing level, from aspiring novice to seasoned professional, giving everyone an equal opportunity to advance.

The USTA created the U.S. Open National Playoffs to expand the footprint of the U.S. Open to cities nationwide by providing the opportunity for all players 14 years of age and older to earn a berth into the U.S. Open. In all, 1,380 players (690 in men’s singles, 306 in women’s singles, and 384 in mixed-doubles) competed in 2011, ranging from experienced professionals to recreational players of all talents and walks of life (including ESPN’s Mike Greenberg, who teamed with six-time US Open champion Chris Evert in mixed doubles).

The U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament will be held Aug. 21-24 and the U.S. Open Mixed-Doubles Championship begins Aug. 29 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. The 2012 U.S. Open begins on Aug. 27.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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