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Long Beach, New York (August 29, 2010)— Beach Tennis USA® (BTUSA), the organization responsible for the sport of beach tennis in North America, will host the first-ever ITF sanctioned International Beach Tennis Championship in Long Beach, NY over Labor Day weekend The event site is located on the beach at Riverside Boulevard near the Boardwalk in Long Beach, New York and is free to the public.
This year the Men’s and Women’s Pro division teams will include teams from over 12 countries competing for ITF ranking points. Defending champions, Matteo Marighella and Alex Mingozzi (Ravenna, IT), and other top ranked players on the ITF circuit will compete for a purse of $10,000. On the women’s side three-time national championship star, Nadia Johnston of Long Beach, NY will seek to recapture her crown. This year’s event will have a new infusion of talent from the platform tennis world as this year’s competition will be played with official beach tennis paddle rackets. Over three thousand people are expected to be in attendance over the weekend to watch the great international play. The event will also feature fierce amateur competition and a youth event. The deadline for signing up for the amateur competition is Thursday, September 2, 2010. (Please go to beachtennisusa.net to register and for tournament details.)
The youth competition is of special import as the AAU made beach tennis a demonstration event at the Jr. Olympics this summer. Beach Tennis USA also donated two beach tennis courts to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center that were used all summer long by its elite players and the general public. Beach Tennis USA also sponsored exhibitions at two major tennis tournaments this year: the SEO in Miami and the Pen/Pilot Championships in New Haven.
Jim Lorenzo, President of Beach Tennis USA, said “This year’s competition will be intense. With the ITF imprimatur on this event the players and fans will enjoy a high-level of play. The City of Long Beach is a great host and we expect to exceed last year’s attendance levels”
http://www.beachtennisusa.net/CMSPage.aspx?UrlKey=2010ITFChampionships
 About Beach Tennis USA
Beach Tennis USA launched the sport of beach tennis in the USA and Canada in 2005. Since its birth tens of thousands of people have enjoyed the sport with a mini-movement taking shape. Places as varied as Chicago, Buffalo, Santa Barbara and Augusta, Ga. have started leagues and hosted beach tennis events. Emphasis over the past 6 months has been on growing the sport at the grass roots level as well as the professional level, with particular focus on the youth sector.
About The International Tennis Federation
 The International Tennis Federation is the world governing body of tennis, including beach tennis, and is responsible for the rules of both sports and maintaining the integrity of tennis. In addition to its administrative role, the ITF is the owner and international rights holder of the two largest annual international team competitions in sport, Davis Cup by BNP Paribas and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas. The ITF also organizes the Olympic Tennis Event on behalf of the IOC. Through its Technical Department, the ITF closely monitors both equipment and technology, while its Officiating Department oversees the education and advancement of officials worldwide. The ITF organizes over 900 weeks of men’s and women’s professional tournaments on the ITF Pro Circuit and coordinates the rapidly growing ITF Beach Tennis Tour. Through its Tennis Development Department that oversees the development of tennis worldwide, the ITF manages the ITF Junior Circuit and Team Competitions for elite juniors as well as international tennis events and programs for wheelchair and senior players. The ITF also manages the Tennis Anti-Doping Program on behalf of the sport and is a partner in the Tennis Integrity Unit.
Contact:
Marc Altheim – 917.453.7502
maltheim@beachtennisusa.net
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