Move over Emirates Airline US Open Series, there’s a new summer circuit in town. The 8 and Under Play Day Circuit presented by the Citi Open begins in June and continues through July with stops at Rock Creek Park, including a visit to the Citi Open, Kastles Stadium at the Wharf, Richmond, and Montgomery County.
Citi, the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation and Lagardere Unlimited announced in April that Citi will replace Legg Mason as the title sponsor of the ATP 500 tournament in Washington, D.C. In addition, the tournament has been expanded to include a WTA International Level tournament. Both the ATP and WTA tournaments will be played simultaneously from July 28 to August 5 at the William H. G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C. Tickets for the Citi Open are now on sale.
Tennis Play Days are designed to get more kids ages 10 and under playing with local peers in a fun, non-threatening, competitive environment. Whether a child is just learning to compete or is already in competition, a Play Day gives kids additional opportunities to experience the thrill of competition without the threat of elimination. The emphasis is on honing skills and having fun. Play Days promote a sense of achievement through a fun and spirited atmosphere.
The 8 and Under Citi Open Play Day Circuit will only feature players that are eight years old and younger. Teams must have a minimum of four players to take part in the non-gender specific Play Days. The first leg of the circuit kicks off on June 9 at Rock Creek Park and will have a family carnival atmosphere complete with a moon bounce and rock climbing wall provided by Coca-Cola. The second stop will take place in Richmond, Virginia at the ACAC Tennis Center on June 16. The third stop on the circuit will be on July 14 at The Bullis Tennis Center in Potomac, Maryland. The fourth stop will be on July 15 at the "King of the Kastles Play Day" at Kastles Stadium at the Wharf. Players and their families will be able to watch the Washington Kastles take on the Philadelphia Freedom after they compete in front of the stadium on a blocked off street. The final leg comes back to Rock Creek Park at the start of the Citi Open on July 28th from 10 a.m. to noon. The top three teams from each of the stops will compete on the grounds of the Citi Open at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center. Players and their families will be able to enjoy the qualifying matches at the conclusion of the Play Day and will get a chance to meet professional players from the ATP and WTA Tour. "We are excited to host play days a long side our professional events," said Executive Director, Rod Dulany. "Kids not only get to play in a fun and friendly environment but they also get to see where commitment and hard work can lead them."
To learn more about 10 and Under Tennis, visit www.10andundertennis.com.
For more information on the Citi Open please call the tournament hotline (202) 721-9500 or visit www.citiopentennis.com. For more information about the Citi-Open Play Day Circuit, please email Alanna Broderick at broderick@mas.usta.com.
###
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 more than 750,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game.
The Mid-Atlantic Section is one of 17 sections of the USTA. It serves nearly 40,000 members in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia as well as eastern and southern West Virginia. For more information on the USTA Mid-Atlantic Section, log on to midatlanitc.usta.com, "like" the official Facebook page facebook.com/ustamas or follow @USTAMidAtlantic on Twitter.
For more information, contact:
Alanna Broderick, Community Tennis Development Director, USTA/Mid-Atlantic, broderick@mas.usta.com or 571-313-8309