US OPEN NATIONAL PLAYOFFS – MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS
TO BE PLAYED AT 2010 OLYMPUS US OPEN SERIES EVENTS

 IN ATLANTA AND STANFORD, RESPECTIVELY

US Open National Playoffs Men’s and Women’s Champions

Receive Wild Card Entry into 2010 US Open Qualifying Tournament

On-line Registration Open at www.USOpen.org for Most Sectional Qualifying Events

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 10, 2010 – The USTA announced today the inaugural US Open National Playoffs – Men’s and Women’s Championships will be played at the first men’s and women’s tournaments of the 2010 Olympus US Open Series.  The Atlanta Athletic Club will host the US Open National Playoffs – Men’s Championship, July 22-25, during the Atlanta Tennis Championships and the Taube Family Tennis Stadium at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., will host the US Open National Playoffs – Women’s Championship, July 29-August 1, during the Bank of the West Classic.

In January, the USTA announced the launch of the US Open National Playoffs, which will expand the footprint of the US Open and provide the opportunity for all players 14 years of age and older to earn a wild card into the 2010 US Open Qualifying Tournament. The US Open National Playoffs begins with 16 men’s and women’s sectional qualifying tournaments held throughout the country from April through June.  The men’s and women’s champions from each of the sectional qualifying tournaments advance to the US Open National Playoffs – Men’s and Women’s Championships, in Atlanta and Stanford, Calif.

Entry information and a schedule of US Open National Playoffs Sectional Qualifying Tournaments are available online at www.usopen.org.  On-line registration for 12 of the 16 men’s and women’s sectional qualifying tournaments are currently open. 

“We are thrilled to hold the US Open National Playoffs – Men’s and Women’s Championships in conjunction with the start of the 2010 Olympus US Open Series,” said Jim Curley, Chief Professional Tournaments Officer & US Open Tournament Director.  “We now have six months of tennis under the US Open umbrella.  From April through June, weekend warriors, top amateurs and aspiring pros can compete in the US Open National Playoffs, which now culminates in July when the world’s top professional players come to North America for the summer hard court season in preparation for the US Open.”

Participants can be of any playing level, from aspiring novice to seasoned professional.  Skier Bode Miller will compete at one of the sectional qualifying tournaments.  Miller, the 1998 Maine state singles champion for Carrabassett Valley Academy whose family owns the Tamarack Tennis Camp in Easton, N.H., is coming off of the best Olympic results of his career, winning gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

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 the sectional draws will not be seeded, giving everyone an equal opportunity to advance to the US Open National Playoffs – Men’s and Women’s Championships.

The US Open Qualifying Tournament will be held August 24-27 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.

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The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game.  A not-for-profit organization with 740,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Olympus US Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns the 90-plus Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., is a minority owner and promotional partner of World TeamTennis, and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA philanthropic entity, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and through tennis, helps underserved youth and people with disabilities to improve academics, build character and strive for excellence. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.