The Tennis Center is a public facility and will offer access to the courts to the public.  Mr. Kraft, an enthusiastic platform tennis player himself, expects that the program will be very successful and introduce platform tennis to a whole new audience who has never even heard of the sport.  He is planning programs for kids and adults and expects to generate much publicity through the USTA’s website and other avenues.

Reilly Green Mountain expects to have construction complete by mid to late October.

Courts on the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center represent a signifigant opportunity for the exposure of Platform Tennis. Not only will the public have the opportunity to see Platform Tennis at the US Open, but the courts will be available to the public year round at the largest public tennis facility in the world.

In June 2007 Whitney Kraft was named Director of Tennis Programs at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. His responsibilities include all tennis training and development programs, and special events at the NTC. In addition, Kraft will oversee all operations of the new, state-of-the-art multi-purpose tennis facility now under construction, and scheduled to open in 2008/2009. Kraft reports to Danny Zausner, Managing Director of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Kraft brings more than 20 years of tennis experience to his new position. Prior to joining the USTA, Kraft served as the Director of Tennis for the City of Fort Lauderdale. Whitney is married, with 2 daughters and 3 stepdaughters. He and his wife, Liza, and their family currently live in Pelham, NY

View from the top of Arthur Ashe Stadium looking towards the National Tennis Center's South Plaza and the Unisphere. from: www.usta.com

About the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center:
Even though the USTA pays the City of New York in excess of $1.5 million per year in rent, the organization is permitted to use the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for its own events, including the US Open, for no more than 60 days a year, ensuring the facility's use by the public for 10 months. In actuality, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is open to the public seven days a week, 11 months a year, closing only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. That means you can get out there and play at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center! visit USTA.com for more details