Italian Champs Looks To Retain Title Despite Tough Competition

Beach Tennis USA(R), the organization responsible for launching the pro sport of beach tennis in North America, will hold its 2008 National Beach Tennis Championship in Long Beach, New York on Labor Day Weekend. The National Championship tournament, which is the final event of a 10-city tour, will be held Saturday and Sunday, August 30 and 31 and will be taped for broadcast to over 60 million homes on SportsNet New York (SNY), Tennis Channel, SunSport, FSN West, and select Comcast SportsNet affiliates. The event site is located on the beach at Riverside Blvd. near the Boardwalk in Long Beach, New York.

This year as many as 75 Men and Women’s Pro division teams from 12 countries are expected to compete in the National Championship event. Although the defending champions, Matteo Marighella and Alex Mingozzi (Ravenna, IT) are favored to win, several teams from the U.S. and other countries are hoping to quell the Italian’s dominance in the new pro sport. One such team that looks to have the best chance is the 2005 & 2006 National Champions Phil Whitesell and Chris Henderson (Charleston, SC), who are vying to reclaim their crown after having experienced a resurgence this season. In the Women’s Pro Division, three-time National Champion Nadia Johnston (Long Beach, NY), will be entering into the competition with a new partner and after having participated in only one tournament this season. The finals match just might pose a rematch from last season, with Johnston defending her title against a team that has completely dominated the Women’s division this year-Laura and Lisa Maloney (San Diego, CA).

Preliminary qualifying play for the Women’s Pro divisions will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, with elimination rounds throughout the day. Elimination rounds for the Men’s Pro division will begin Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and the Men and Women’s Pro finals will take place Sunday at 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively.

About Beach Tennis USA

Beach tennis, which was launched in the U.S. as a pro and recreational sport in 2005 by real estate developer Marc Altheim, combines tennis and beach volleyball into one exciting and fast-paced game. Now in its fourth season, Beach Tennis USA has garnered increased attention while hosting events in South Florida, Southern California and New York. Beach Tennis USA has also gained recognition in the tennis world, attracting many former top-rated tennis players and having televised competitions featured on Tennis Channel, SunSport, FSN West, Comcast SportsNet, and SportsNet New York (SNY). The company continues to grow by adding new licensees in various U.S. cities and establishing “Team Beach Tennis,” which promotes year-round league play. To learn more about this fast-growing sport, or to become a licensee, please visit www.beachtennisusa.net .

Source: Beach Tennis USA

Sixth annual all-star tennis event returns to the ALLTEL Pavilion at the VCU Stuart C. Siegel Center Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

As part of their ongoing commitment to support cancer research, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia and James Blake are pleased to present the sixth annual AnthemLIVE! Joining Blake this year will be former Grand Slam singles champion Andy Roddick and the world’s No. 1 men’s doubles team, Bob and Mike Bryan. All four players are members of the 2007 winning men’s Davis Cup team. Last year marked the first U.S. men’s Davis Cup title in 12 years. AnthemLIVE! will take place at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12, 2008 at the ALLTEL Pavilion at the VCU Stuart C. Siegel Center.

“We are excited to bring AnthemLIVE! back to Richmond and look forward to a great night of tennis,” said Burke King, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia. “Finding a cure for this dreaded disease that has affected all of us at one time or another is one of the things most passionate to Anthem and our members. The success we’ve enjoyed partnering with James Blake on this event has exceeded our expectations and once again, we’re happy to have James and his friends join us to help raise funds for cancer research.”

Since its inception, AnthemLIVE! has raised more than $2.5 million for cancer research. This year’s event will again benefit groundbreaking cancer research at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

“Sponsoring a world-class tennis event to support world-class cancer research is a noble endeavor on the part of Anthem,” said Gordon D. Ginder, M.D., director of VCU Massey Cancer Center. “Cancer research ideas and potential discoveries are in the pipeline waiting to get out, and we are grateful Anthem recognizes that through research, we can extend and save lives.”

Supporting the fight against cancer is a top priority for Blake, whose father, Thomas Blake, died of cancer in 2004. To honor his father, Blake plays AnthemLIVE! each year and has established The Thomas Blake Sr. Research Fund at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

“I’ve enjoyed a great partnership with Anthem and look forward to another successful event. I’m close to my Davis Cup teammates and am happy they’ve agreed to join me this year to help raise funds to find a cure for cancer,” said Blake. “It is especially rewarding to be returning to Arthur Ashe’s hometown during the 40th Anniversary of his historic achievements in 1968 when he became world No. 1 and led the United States to a Davis Cup championship. Arthur Ashe inspired my father to begin playing tennis and I can’t think of a more appropriate location for this event or lineup of players to partner with during such an historic time.”

Ticket Information

Tickets for AnthemLIVE! go on sale Monday, June 16, and will be available at the VCU Box Office, 804-828-7267, or by visiting www.siegelcenter.com. Ticket prices will range from $15 to $125. Courtside tables for six people will be available for $3,000 each.

Source: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia

Web site: http://www.anthem.com/
http://www.atptennis.com/
http://www.siegelcenter.com/