HUNTSVILLE – It’s another net gain for the Huntsville sports community.
The Rocket City is hosting the USTA Pro Circuit Championship on May 22-28, 2023, at the Athletic Club of Alabama. The championship is the culmination of the USTA Southern Section four-tournament playoff series.
“We are proud to host this championship and look forward to a great event that will feature some of the top young talent in the country,” said ACA owner Eddie Jacques. “It’s exciting to see the USTA Southern Section create opportunities for a diverse set of players to get experience and learn the ropes of life as a professional.”
The series will expand opportunities to Historically Black College and University (HBCU) student-athletes. USTA Southern will offer eight wild cards to men and eight wild cards to women HBCU student-athletes for each of the two Southern Colleges and University series events. There will also be a junior tournament for 14- to 18-year-olds and an Adult Open playoff series for players of 14 years and older.
“Thanks to the strong relationships with all of our partners, we welcome the USTA Southern Section Pro Circuit Championship to Huntsville,” said Judy Ryals, President and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We have a long history of supporting tennis events, and this will be a great addition to our destination this year.”
The winner of each playoff series tournament will earn a wild card into the USTA Southern Pro Circuit $15K Tournament main draw, while the finalist will get a qualifying wild card.
“We believe our mission is to create a continuum of opportunities for all players that are part of our USTA Southern Tournament Pathway, particularly HBCU players,” USTA Southern President & CEO Brett Schwartz said. “We are currently strengthening our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts so that D, E & I will permeate our culture.
“Thus, providing wild cards for our HBCU players in the USTA Southern Playoff Series is an important step in creating more opportunity and a more inclusive association.”
Players must be eligible to represent the United States as per ITF and Olympic rules and regulations. Collegiate players must be official college or university team members in one of the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Juniors and adults must have a residency declaration in one of the nine states. The boys’ winner of the Southern Junior Level 3, scheduled for February in Florence, S.C., will also receive a qualifying wild card. Doubles wild cards will also be awarded to the Pro Circuit event.
“Huntsville has a strong tennis community, and it is good to see that continue in partnership with the USTA Southern Section to create this event for professionals in the region,” said Mark Russell, executive director of the Huntsville Sports Commission. “We welcome all the competitors to the Rocket City for a great week of tennis.”
USTA Southern staffers Milagros “Milly” Sequera Huss, a former WTA player, and Maria Cercone are spearheading the series and Pro Circuit tournament. Huss is the tournament director of the Pro Circuit.
“Having a Pro Circuit event is a great way to engage Huntsville-area families by offering various community activities,” Huss said. “Southern is currently planning numerous events, especially for kids. We want to offer free or low-cost professional tennis so the community can enjoy watching players worldwide compete in their backyard.
“It is also a bonus to have the event during National Tennis Month.”
Cercone, who serves as USTA Southern Director, Junior Tennis & Player Development, said, “USTA Southern is excited to support the development of our juniors. The Playoff Series expands the pathways for juniors and young adults to move from boys’ and girls’ tournaments to professional-level competition.”
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