MACON SELECTED AS SITE FOR MAJOR ADULT TOURNAMENT
John Drew Smith Tennis Center has been chosen as the site to host USTA Georgia’s inaugural Kia Motors Tournament of Champions.  The three-day event, Oct. 16-18, 2009, is designed to bring the top National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) singles and doubles players together from USTA Georgia’s 8 districts.  The top two singles players and top two doubles teams from 2.5 to 5.0 will be invited.  Doubles teams must be from the same district in order to qualify from that district.

To qualify, players must play in at least one sanctioned USTA Georgia NTRP tournament which will generate a “standing”.  Your top four results will count toward your standing, so playing in more tournaments enhances your standing.  You can also play in tournaments outside of your district, though not required.  USTA Georgia will invite players from each district based on their Georgia standing on October 1.  Closing date for qualifying is Sep. 21.

If all of the divisions max out, there will be 576 players in the tournament.  Awards will be given to the winners and finalists in the main draw and winners of the consolation draws.  Kia, Wilson, T-Mobile, and Snapple are all on board as partners and will be supplying player gifts and/or prizes.

USTA Georgia standings also include Category 1 USTA National tournaments and Southern Section tournaments that count toward a player’s standing. Monthly standings will be provided to the district offices for posting.

Macon has 4 Kia Motors Series events out of the 23 offered around the state:  Healy Point Winter Classic, Jan. 9-11, Healy Point; Polar Bear NTRP Championships Feb. 20-23, JDS; Banana Open NTRP, April 24-26, Healy Point; The “Other” French Open NTRP, May 29-June 4, Healy Point.