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11-Alive’s Sam Crenshaw to host First Annual Atlanta City Open Kids’ Day Event Presented by One Love Tennis and The Atlanta Tennis Company/serioustennis.com
Atlanta, GA, (May 14, 2003) One Love Tennis and Atlanta Tennis Company/serioustennis.com invite metro Atlanta area residents out to the North Fulton Tennis Center on Saturday, May 24 from 9:00 a.m. – Noon to attend the first annual Atlanta City Open Kids’ Day, hosted by 11-Alive sports anchor Sam Crenshaw. The Kids’ Day, a special community tennis event designed to introduce kids to the sport of tennis, will kick off the Atlanta City Open Tennis Championships, scheduled through May 30. The Cartoon Network Tennis Club will be on hand with games and prizes, as well as information on how parents can enroll their children in introductory programs that are designed to attract more entry-level kids to tennis and enhance existing youth programs everywhere. This innovative new national promotion, sponsored by the United States Tennis Association and Tennis Industry Association, combines the biggest name in children’s television programming, CARTOON NETWORK™, with the fun of playing tennis. The event is free and open to the public.
Sam Crenshaw and special invited guest John Guy of the Buffalo Bills will participate in a “pro/celebrity” match following the Kids’ Day activities and free youth tennis
clinic. “I am very excited to serve as host for the first annual Atlanta City Open Kids’ Day,” stated Mr. Crenshaw. “Offering the free clinic gives us an opportunity to
introduce the game of tennis to youth who might not otherwise discover the sport on their own.”
Featured activities at the event include demonstration courts, staffed by local teaching pros, where participants will learn how to hit the forehand, backhand, serve and volley
and learn to play ralleyball. Cartoon Network Tennis Club prizes will also be awarded to kids who participate in the tennis ball-decorating contest.
TheNorthFultonTennisCenter is located at 500 Abernathy Road and managed by Ivo Barbic. The 24-court
facility will once again host the Atlanta City Open, a $10,000 prize money tennis event held in Atlanta every May. Tournament play begins at noon on May 24, immediately following the
Kids’ Day festivities. Featured will be entry-level players from the professional tour, top-ranked juniors and college players, local teaching pros and high-level ALTA & USTA
players. Last year’s men’s champion, Ignacio Gonzales-King, is currently ranked #251 on the ATP tour. The 2002 runner-up, Jonathan Igbinovia, plays Davis Cup for his native
Nigeria and is currently ranked #712 on the tour.
“The Atlanta City Open offers the best tennis and the best talent that will come through Atlanta this year, and admission to all events is free,” said Tournament Director
Turhan Berne of One Love Tennis, who will manage the weeklong tournament. “I want to prove Billie Jean King wrong when she said that the Atlanta tennis community plays a lot of tennis,
but doesn’t want to watch a lot of tennis.”
In addition to watching great tennis, spectators may take advantage of free spinal screenings and health information about how to prevent tennis injuries, provided on site by
Dr. Serge Sautre of North West Chiropractic, a tournament supplier. Also available on site are the most current of this season’s tennis apparel, shoes and equipment, offered by
tournament sponsor Atlanta Tennis Company/Serious Tennis. Other sponsors include One Love Tennis and Geronimo Technologies. Proceeds from the tournament will go toward funding
training expenses for junior tennis players. To become a tournament sponsor, please e-maillacyb@onelovetennis.com or call Turhan Berne at 678.283.2739. To enter the tournament, go to www.onelovetennis.com.
About the Sponsors
The mission of One Love Tennis
is to be one of the leading advocates of building ethnic diversity in the game of tennis and to increase the participation of youth in the sport of tennis at an early age. Student players are encouraged to fully develop their tennis potential and educational endeavors, to increase their opportunities to participate in competitive tennis at all levels of play. One Love’s principal efforts are focused on supporting the students’ pursuit of a successful college education through the One Love Tennis College Scholarship Awards Program. A portion of the funds raised at all One Love Tennis events during the year will go toward development of the One Love Tennis Foundation, to provide scholarships, tennis instruction and participation expenses for members of the One Love Tennis Outreach/Training Program.
The Georgia Professional Tennis Association awarded the Atlanta Tennis Company
“Retailer of the Year” for 2002. The Atlanta Tennis Company at NorthFultonTennisCenter carries a complete line of the latest tennis apparel, shoes and accessories, including Nike and adidas. A complete pro shop is available online at www.serioustennis.com.
Geronimo Technologies, LLC is comprised of a consortium of highly trained consultants dedicated to providing customized cost effective eBusiness Internet solutions.
Other Sponsors include b2b Communications and North West Chiropractic.
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