Or wonder what feels like to be in the firing line of a Jim Courier forehand?

Ever wanted to have a beer with Marat Safin or see if Michael Chang could run down your drop shot?

Tennis fans can find out first hand at The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships to be held November 5-7 in Grand Cayman, where, for the first time, an exclusive and intense pro-am tournament has been added to the event, providing some of these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

Edberg, Courier, Safin and Chang will be joined in Grand Cayman by former top 10-ranked Americans Aaron Krickstein and Jimmy Arias for the six-player Champions Series event and the pro-am activities.

In addition to the competing for a first-prize paycheck of $45,000 and Champions Series ranking points, the players will participate in the pro-am that will see the legends playing matches and enjoying meals and social time with participating amateurs over multiple days. Tennis fans interested in participating in the pro-am with the legends can find ticket, travel and tournament information by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.

“This is an ultimate, once-in-a-lifetime tennis fantasy opportunity to have the chance to play with and against some of the biggest legends in the game – and have quality social time in an amazingly beautiful luxury resort,” said Jon Venison, co-founding partner of InsideOut Sports & Entertainment, the owners and operators of the Champions Series tennis circuit. “In addition to playing and socializing with these greats of the game, fans will also have up-close and personal access as they compete for prize money and ranking points in the official Champions Series event held in Grand Cayman for the third year at The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman.”

Edberg, Courier, Safin and Chang have combined to win 13 major singles titles, with Edberg, Courier and Safin having achieved the world’s No. 1 ranking and Chang reaching a career-high ranking of No. 2. The event will be played on red clay courts in a single-knockout format event with each player vying for a first-prize paycheck of $45,000 and ranking points that determine the year-end No. 1 ranked player on the Champions Series circuit.

To be eligible to compete on the Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Courier finished the 2009 season as the top-ranked player on the Champions Series, followed by Pete Sampras and Todd Martin. Courier won the 2009 edition of The Residences At the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships beating Arias 6-4, 6-2 in the final.

Earlier this year on the Champions Series circuit, former U.S. and Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis defeated John McEnroe in May to win the Staples Champions Cup in Boston and take over the No. 1 Champions Series ranking. Former French Open semifinalist Fernando Meligeni of Brazil was the surprise winner of the opening event on the 2010 Champions Series, winning the title in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil by defeating Philippoussis in the final in March.

CHAMPIONS SERIES VIDEO FOOTAGE

The Champions Series video page features exclusive behind the scenes footage of events and candid player chats. Videos can be seen at http://m1e.net/c?117624092-e0OZwEToXP4k.%405777254-IJHpH7rq444KI

BECOME A FAN OF THE CHAMPIONS SERIES ON FACEBOOK & FOLLOW US ON TWITTER facebook.com/championsseriestennis | twitter.com/cs_tennis

CHAMPIONS SERIES WEBSITE:

http://m1e.net/c?117624092-CLggdvDBanAlw%405777255-1WPdmKceiZLIw

InsideOut Sports + Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Champions Series tennis circuit, a collection of tournaments featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including “Legendary Night” exhibitions, charity events, corporate outings and tennis fantasy camps such as the annual “Ultimate Fantasy Camp”. Through 2009, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment events have raised over $4 million for charity. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s Roland Garros or wherever, it’s just a pleasure to play before all these wonderful people,” said the No. 3 seeded Cristea, after her 6-3, 6-4 win over her countrywoman and top-seeded Edina Gallovits in the semifinals of the USTA $50,000 Pro Circuit event being held at the Red Rock Country Club in Summerlin.

Cirstea, who lives in Las Vegas a quarter of the year training with the Adidas group led by Darren Cahill and Gil Reyes, will meet American Varvara Lepchenko in today’s final. Lepchenko, the No. 2 seed, beat No. 4 Mirjana Lucic in similar fashion, 6-3, 6-4, in the first semifinal on Saturday.

Cirstea controlled the match opening up a 5-1 second set lead with her popping first serve and consistent groundstrokes. “She is tough to play because she is such a good friend,” Cirstea said of the 25-year-old Gallovits, who she now holds a 3-0 career head-to-head against, including a straight-set win over her in the first round at the 2009 Wimbledon Championships.

Cirstea has dropped just one set in the tournament, which came in the first round against American Irina Falconi. “After I survived that first round I started feeling more confidence,” she said.

The lefty Lepchenko got her revenge against Lucic, who beat her last week in the semifinals at the Albuquerque, N.M., Pro Circuit event. In that match, Lepchenko was actually up a set and a break before letting Lucic back in the match which Lucic ultimately won, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1. “I did start to remember about last week when I was up 3-0 and 4-1 in the second set,” Lepchenko said. “I just had to keep reminding myself to stay aggressive.”

A native of Uzbekistan, Lepchenko currently resides in Allentown, Pa. She has lived in the United States since 2001 after receiving political asylum and became a U.S. citizen in 2007.

In the doubles final on Sunday at 11 a.m., wild cards Falconi and Maria Sanchez will face No. 4 seeds Lindsay Lee-Waters and Megan Moulton-Levy.

Saturday’s Semifinal Singles Results

wc: wild card

Varvara Lepchenko, U.S. (2), def. Mirjana Lucic, Croatia (4), 6-3, 6-4

Sorana Cirstea, Romania (3), def. Edina Gallovits, Romania (1), 6-3, 6-4

Sunday’s Finals Order of Play

Stadium Court Starting at 11 a.m.

Irina Falconi, U.S. / Maria Sanchez, U.S. (wc), vs. Lindsay Lee-Waters, U.S. / Megan Moulton-Levy, U.S. (4)

Followed by Varvara Lepchenko, U.S. (2), vs. Sorana Cirstea, Romania (3)

The tournament title sponsor is Lexus of Las Vegas with the presenting sponsor Hand Surgery Specialists of Nevada. Thank you to all the members who sponsored the tournament, including Dan Jackson with Raymond James, Kate Lowe of State Farm. Dwain Frazier of All State, Rob Weisbord of CW Las Vegas, Keith Brille of Women’s Specialty Care and Dr. Jeffrey Ng, .MD, among many others.

For additional event and ticket information, please visit www.lexuslvopen.com.

LAS VEGAS PAST CHAMPIONS

Singles

Year                Winner                                                Runner-up

2009                Regina Kulikova (RUS)                      Aniko Kapros (HUN)

2008                Camille Pin (FRA)                               Asia Muhammad (U.S.)

2007                Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)                 Akiko Morigami (JPN)

1999                Erika de Lone (U.S.)                           Hila Rosen (ISR)

Doubles

Year                Winner

2009                Aniko Kapros (HUN) – Agustina Lepore (ARG)

2008                Melinda Czink (HUN) – Renata Voracova (CZE)

2007                Victoria Azarenka (BLR) – Tatiana Poutchek (BLR)

1999                Erika de Lone (U.S.) – Annabel Ellwood (AUS)

PRIZE MONEY

SINGLES: Prize Money               Points

Winner                         $7,315                         70

Runner-up                   $3,990                         50

Semifinalist                 $2,185                         32

Quarterfinalist             $1,235                         18

Round of 16                $760                            10

Round of 32                $475                            1

DOUBLES:                   Prize Money (per team)

Winner                         $2,660

Runner-up                     $1,425

Semifinalist                 $760

Quarterfinalist             $380

Round of 16                $285

USTA Pro Circuit

With 94 tournaments throughout the country and prize money ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, the USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the US Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis players and a frequent battleground for established professionals. Last year, more than 1,000 men and women from more than 70 countries competed on the USTA Pro Circuit for approximately $3.2 million in prize money and valuable ATP and WTA Tour ranking points. Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, James Blake, Lindsay Davenport, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Jelena Jankovic are among the top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit. The USTA Pro Circuit is world-class tennis administered on the local level and played on local tennis courts as part of the fabric of communities nationwide — an opportunity for current and new fans to experience the excitement and intensity of the professional game in their neighborhood.

The world’s leading players used their tennis skills to create individual masterpieces by hitting paint covered tennis balls against large art canvases. Each canvas was overlaid with a stencilled image, which, when removed, revealed a unique self-portrait showing one of the player’s signature moves on court.

The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals sees the Top 8 men’s tennis players in the world battle it out against each other for the last title of the season. Players compete for South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings points throughout the season in a bid to earn one of the eight coveted berths and a chance to win the $1.6m prize money on offer for the winner.

The artwork created by the final eight players will be exhibited for public viewing in Central London in early November, and during tournament week at the new Fan Zone at The O2. The artwork then will be auctioned off for charity with tennis fans around the world getting the chance to bid on a rare piece of art created and signed by their favourite player.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have already qualified for the tournament. The remaining six places are still up for grabs, as a chasing pack featuring the likes of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick continue to battle for rankings points at ATP World Tour events during the remainder of the season in order to finish among the Top 8.

Nadal, the 2010 Wimbledon, Roland Garros and US Open Champion, is looking forward to returning to London in November. “Making the artwork was fun and something I’ve never done before. It’s a great way to celebrate the World Tour Finals coming back to London. Last year the crowd and the stadium were amazing although I didn’t play my best tennis. Hopefully this year I will arrive playing well again and will try to do my best in front of the London fans who add such a special feeling to the event,” said the World No.1.

Federer, a four-time winner of the season-ending tournament, has qualified for the event for a ninth consecutive year. “They staged a fantastic event at The O2 last year and I look forward to returning in November and finishing the season strong. It was great fun being invited to create my self-portrait and I’m excited to see how the finished artwork looks hanging in the gallery,” said the Swiss.

The tournament is the world’s biggest indoor tennis event, where each of the top eight players are drawn to play a minimum of three round-robin matches to determine which four players advance to the knockout semi-finals. Tickets are available online at www.BarclaysATPWorldTourFinals.com.

Fifteen-year-old Mackenzie McDonald, who comes from the same Northern California town as Gilbert was raised 90 miles southeast in Piedmont, met his match against Illinois’ best player, Dennis Nevolo, falling 6-1, 6-2, on a day that saw the USTA’s eight top juniors win five singles matches against six of the nation’s best collegiate teams.

Gilbert said despite the result, McDonald, who is referred to as Mackie by his coaches and teammates, is still one U.S. tennis fans should keep an eye on in the future.

“It was good to finally get a sense of his game,” said Gilbert of McDonald, who won the 14s Easter Bowl Spring Nationals in 2009. “He’s just 15 so the next 18 months will tell a lot. But from what I saw, I would be surprised if he doesn’t become a top player.”

Nevolo, a junior who finished with 27 wins as the Fighting Illini’s No. 1 player last year, proved too strong physically for McDonald. “It was a tough match for me,” said McDonald, who fell to 1-1 in the round-robin formatted tournament. “I mean, he’s No. 1 for Illinois. I felt like he was pressuring me and overpowered me. That was actually my game plan going in against him since there were no expectations for me. But I wasn’t able to execute it.”

Gilbert agreed: “The guy he’s playing is 21 and just physically too strong. He just got overpowered.”

USTA coaches Jose Higueras, Jay Berger and Ricardo Acuna watched the match and were even able to go on court during the match and coach McDonald and the other players, something new for them but not new for the other college coaches.

“That’s one of the great things about this event,” said USC assistant coach George Husack. “We get a chance to see some of these juniors up close and actually be on the same court with them. It’s good to be in front of them. They see what I’m like on the court interacting with my players and I can also see how they’re reacting to the coaching that is going on with them with some of the USTA coaches.”

He continued: “I think the event also shows the college guys that these juniors aren’t messing around. They aren’t here just because it’s a great opportunity. They’re here to win.”

The USTA juniors were led by Jack Sock, Alexios Halebian and the two Mitchell’s, Krueger and Frank, who each won on Saturday and have two wins in two days. The final day of round-robin play is Sunday with the winners of each of the eight flights advancing to a single-elimination, 10-point tiebreak tournament.

Florida coach Jeremy Bayon was in agreement with the other seven collegiate coaches in his high praise of the event. “I think it’s a great idea and it’s a great format,” Bayon said. “It shows that the USTA and the college coaches can work together. Most of the freshmen and sophomores still know the juniors so it’s bring a great atmosphere. It’s good because it shows how good junior tennis is in the U.S. It shows that college tennis is also at such a high level.”

Count veteran Kentucky coach Dennis Emery as one in favor of the event. He couldn’t stop raving about the event. He said he got the coveted invite from Cal coach Peter Wright after Georgia had to drop out. “I think it’s a really unique event and I think it has so much potential to get even bigger,”  Emery said. “I think it’s great getting to see the USTA coaches on the court with their players. It’s a innovation that they don’t have in any other setting. I think that’s what makes it such a big thing for the USTA.”

Emery said he’s seen firsthand the positive support the USTA has recently given to college tennis. “I don’t think there’s been any question there’s a huge turn in the way the USTA is approaching college tennis,” Emery said. “As a 33-year Division I veteran, I can tell you it’s something that’s been long-awaited. It’s been a very serious commitment to college tennis on behalf of the USTA. I went to a coaching clinic in June in Boca and the entire program with Patrick (McEnroe) and Jose (Higueras) and Jay Berger was fascinating.

“Just the whole thing is on a good path right now. It’s a group of guys that I think understands that it doesn’t matter where the players are coming from but that they’re coming prepared and ready to play. It’s a much less territorial thing than in the past.”

Emery continued: “The thing that I’m most impressed with is that the juniors are not getting overpowered. I thought that the college guys would be able to come in and overpower them with their serves and their aggressive play. But that’s just not the case. I’ve been very impressed with how technically sound these junior players are. They play a lot of balls. I think the reason they are able to compete so well is because they are so technically sound. That’s the biggest thing I’ve seen.”

The winner of the tournament will receive a USTA-sponsored wild card into a USTA Pro Circuit event that is yet to be determined.

The juniors were selected by USTA Player Development based on ATP rankings (if applicable), national rankings and results, and a selection of younger players for developmental purposes.

DAY 2: Saturday’s Singles Results

Eric Quigley (Kentucky) def. Carlos Cueto (Cal), 7-6 (5), 6-2

Bjorn Fratangelo (USTA, Pittsburgh, Pa.) def. Raymond Sarmiento (USC), 6-0, 6-3

Dennis Nevolo (Illinois) def. Mackenzie McDonald (USTA, Piedmont, Calif.), 6-1, 6-2

JT Sundling (USC) def. Maks Gold (Kentucky), 6-0, 6-2

Vasko Mladenov (Texas) def. Bob Van Overbeek (Florida), 7-6 (4), 6-1

Abe Souza (Illinois) def. Pedro Zerbini (Cal), 6-4, 7-5

Bruno Abdelnour (Illinois) def. Hunter Harrington (USTA, Spartanburg, S.C.), 6-2, 6-3

Alex Musialek (Kentucky) def. Marcos Giron (USTA, Thousand Oaks, Calif.), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4

Ed Corrie (Texas) def. Nick Andrews (Cal), 6-1, 6-4

Mitchell Krueger (USTA, Aledo, Texas) def. David Holiner (Texas), 6-3, 7-6 (4)

Alexandre Lacroix (Florida) def. Johnny Hamui (Illinois), 6-2, 6-2

Jack Sock (USTA, Lincoln, Neb.) def. Christoffer Konigsfeldt (Cal), 6-4, 6-2

Mitchell Frank (USTA, Annandale, Va.) def. Anthony Rossi (Kentucky), 6-4, 6-1

Daniel Nguyen (USC) def. Jean Andersen (Texas), 2-6, 7-5, 6-1

Alexios Halebian (USTA, Glendale, Calif.) def. Nassim Slilam (Florida), 6-3, 6-2

Sekou Bangoura (Florida) def. Jaak Poldma (USC), 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3)

DAY 2: Saturday’s Doubles Results

Nick Andrews / Christoffer Konigsfeldt (Cal) def. Mitchell Krueger / Bjorn Fratangelo (USTA), 8-6

Alexandre Lacroix / Nassim Slilam (Florida), def. Mitchell Frank / Jack Sock (USTA), 8-4

Zack Gilbert / Sky Lovell (Cal) def. Marcos Giron / Alexios Halebian (USTA), 9-8 (3)

JT Sundling / Raymond Sarmiento (USC) def. Mackenzie McDonald / Hunter Harrington (USTA), 8-4

DAY 3: Sunday’s Schedule

8:00 a.m.

Alex Musialek (Kentucky) v. Vasko Mladenov (Texas)

Bob Van Overbeek (Florida) v. Marcos Giron (USTA)

Alexios Halebian (USTA) v. Jean Andersen (Texas)

Jaak Poldma (USC) v. David Holiner (Texas)

Sekou Bangoura (Florida) v. Mitchell Krueger (USTA)

Ed Corrie (Texas) v. Bruno Abdelnour (Illinois)

9:15 a.m.

Christoffer Konigsfeldt (Cal) v. Johnny Hamui (Illinois)

Eric Quigley (Kentucky) v. Raymond Sarmiento (USC)

Pedro Zerbini (Cal) v. Anthony Rossi (Kentucky)

10:30 a.m.

Daniel Nguyen (USC) v. Nassim Slilam (Florida)

Nick Andrews (Cal) v. Hunter Harrington (USTA)

Alexandre Lacroix (Florida) v. Jack Sock (USTA)

Carlos Cueto (Cal) v. Bjorn Fratangelo (USTA)

Abe Souza (Illinois) v. Mitchell Frank (USTA)

Dennis Nevolo (Illinois) v. Maks Gold (Kentucky)

JT Sundling (USC) v. MacKenzie McDonald (USTA)

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game.  A not-for-profit organization with 750,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game.  It owns and operates the US Open, and launched the Olympus US Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open.  In addition, it owns the 90-plus Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., is a minority owner and promotional partner of World TeamTennis, and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games.  USTA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the USTA, provides financial support for disadvantaged youth and people with disabilities through tennis and education programs.  For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.

According to Milner, whether tennis fans were looking for upsets, following their favorite players or tracking a potential Federer-Nadal showdown, they were doing it on TENNIS.com.  In the two weeks from August 30th through September 13^th, the site recorded 658,072 unique visitors – about 10% more uniques than a typical full month of traffic. The 1,832,638 user sessions, an 11% increase from the 2009 US Open, shows that visitors are returning to the site throughout the tournament for the latest news and information.  The 26% increase in page views to 12,493,249, proves that tennis fans are not just checking scores but are discovering robust content throughout the site such as daily videos, twitter feeds and blogs.

Advertisers who benefitted from the substantial online audience included: American Express, Wilson, K-SWISS and POLO.

The company’s explosive growth surrounding its podcast programs continued during the 2010 US Open as more than 39,000 podcasts, sponsored by American Express and Prince Sports, were downloaded from iTunes, Zune and TENNIS.com.

About The Tennis Media Company: The Tennis Media Company publishes TENNIS Magazine and SMASH Magazine. TENNIS, published 8 times annually, is the world’s largest tennis title, with a circulation of more than 600,000. The Tennis Media Company also owns TENNIS.com, the world’s leading tennis website, plus the blog Peter Bodo’s TennisWorld (peterbodostennisworld.com).

This year’s tournament will also feature for the first time a multi-day pro-am experience that will be combined with the world class tennis competition to create an exclusive tennis destination happening. All six competing pros will participate in the pro-am tournament that will see the legends playing matches and enjoying meals and social time with participating amateurs over multiple days. Tennis fans interested in participating in the pro-am with the legends can find ticket, travel and tournament information by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.

Edberg, Courier, Safin and Chang have combined to win 13 major singles titles, with Edberg, Courier and Safin having achieved the world’s No. 1 ranking and Chang reaching a career-high ranking of No. 2. The event will be played on red clay courts in a single-knockout format event with each player vying for a first-prize paycheck of $45,000 and ranking points that determine the year-end No. 1 ranked player on the Champions Series circuit.

In the opening quarterfinal match at 7 pm on November 5, Chang will play Krickstein, followed by Courier taking on Arias. On Saturday, November 6, starting at 2 pm, the winner of the Chang-Krickstein match will play Safin while the winner of the Courier-Arias match will play Edberg. The schedule of play on Sunday, November 7 will feature the third-place match between the two losing semifinalists starting at 1 pm followed by the championship match.

“It’s hard to think of any place more relaxing and beautiful to see and compete with some of the greatest legends in tennis than this event at The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman,” said Jon Venison, co-founding partner of InsideOut Sports & Entertainment and the Champions Series tennis circuit. “We have assembled the best field ever in Grand Cayman with three former No. 1 players and a former world No. 2 who have combined to win two Wimbledon titles, three US Open titles, three French Open titles and five Australian Open titles. We are also especially excited about our expanded pro-am and hospitality offerings where fans can have the ultimate tennis fantasy experience that they will remember and talk about the rest of their lives.”

To be eligible to compete on the Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Courier finished the 2009 season as the top-ranked player on the Champions Series, followed by Pete Sampras and Todd Martin. Courier won the 2009 edition of The Residences At the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships beating Arias 6-4, 6-2 in the final.

Earlier this year on the Champions Series circuit, former U.S. and Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis defeated John McEnroe in May to win the Staples Champions Cup in Boston and take over the No. 1 Champions Series ranking. Former French Open semifinalist Fernando Meligeni of Brazil was the surprise winner of the opening event on the 2010 Champions Series, winning the title in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil by defeating Philippoussis in the final in March.

CHAMPIONS SERIES VIDEO FOOTAGE

The Champions Series video page features exclusive behind the scenes footage of events and candid player chats. Videos can be seen at http://m1e.net/c?117624092-/xeeD7URGaYks%405702273-YNkZFDwhedoxU

BECOME A FAN OF THE CHAMPIONS SERIES ON FACEBOOK & FOLLOW US ON TWITTER facebook.com/championsseriestennis | twitter.com/cs_tennis

CHAMPIONS SERIES WEBSITE:

http://m1e.net/c?117624092-zitkzgEjC1OXA%405702274-/13Lkiz69.twM

InsideOut Sports + Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Champions Series tennis circuit, a collection of tournaments featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including “Legendary Night” exhibitions, charity events, corporate outings and tennis fantasy camps such as the annual “Ultimate Fantasy Camp”. Through 2009, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment events have raised over $4 million for charity. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The Russian’s 6-4 6-3 win over the No. 1 seed raised a few eyebrows – especially the CBS executives who wanted to see the rising star in the finals – but it didn’t surprise the hardcore tennis fans, who saw Zvonareva lost to Serena Williams in the Wimbledon finals. Much like Wozniacki, she is also a rising star, who went from the 21^st seed at Roland Garros to No. 7 here in Flushing.

“I always believe in myself,” Zvonareva said.  “I always believe I can beat anyone on the other side of the net if I’m able to play my best tennis.  There is nothing really changed for me, you know.  I know I’m not gonna play perfect tennis all the time, like most of the players, but that’s what we all trying to do.

“I know if I’m doing it, if I’m playing well, I can beat anyone.”

Today she proved just that. Controlling the match from the outset, the 26 year-old was able to break and then hold Wozniacki during the third game of the first set to easily cruse to a 6-4 win.  Zvonareva was able to control the match from the baseline, putting her younger opponent on heels, running from side to side, trying to track down balls.

“I think it’s the same probably as the previous match, very similar,” Zvonareva said. “It’s the right balance between being patient and being aggressive.  You know, with those windy conditions you have to play sometimes ugly, you know.  You don’t have to expect to play your best tennis.”

“That’s what I did well.  I was not expecting to play my best tennis, but, you know, I was trying to be patient when I needed, and step up when I got the chance.”

She got chances also early in the she when she went up a break, but Wozniacki broke back to show some fight. Yet, that game was the last the Pilot Pen winner won, as Zvonareva was able to break back and then serve for the win.

“She played a really good game, definitely,” Wozniacki said.  “You know, she was not missing a lot.  She was going for her shots.  Most things were going in.  You know, I had chances, and I don’t know, I made some mistakes today that I usually don’t do.

“Yeah, it was a tough day for me in the office, and unfortunately it was today.  That’s the way tennis is sometimes.”

Now Zvonareva will look for her first Grand Slam win by taking on Kim Clijsters tomorrow night. It will be a very interesting matchup as Clijsters is undefeated in Flushing Meadows since her comeback last year and leads the head to head matchup 5-2, but the two losses came this year. One at Wimbledon and then later this summer in Montreal.

“Any match with Kim will come down to the tough challenge, you know,” Zvonareva said.  “She’s a great mover on the court.  She has a lot of experience.  She won here last year.  You know, it’s going to be tough.  You know, we played a couple of matches for the past couple of months, but those matches are in the past.

“I will think about what worked the best for me, and I will try to take it with me tomorrow, and, you know, do it again.  Those things that didn’t work well for me, I tried to avoid them.  That’s it.”

And as for Wozniacki, it’s back to the drawing board for her Grand Slam, but as Annie once sung, “The sun will come out tomorrow.”

That means Sunshine as well.

“I am pleased and honored to warmly welcome our class of highly experienced, talented and committed new Hall of Fame and Museum Directors,” said Christopher E. Clouser, chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. “Each of these individuals brings a variety of talent, resources and expertise to the organization and their active participation will be very helpful in our efforts to preserve the history of tennis and provide a premier landmark for tennis fans, while honoring the game’s greatest legends and contributors. We are also pleased to announce that George Gowen has been awarded the designation of Hall of Fame Life Trustee. George has served the Hall of Fame as General Counsel with distinction for the past 30 years, along with his firm of Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller.”

John P. Arnhold is chairman and chief executive officer of First Eagle Investment Management, LLC (FEIM), as well as co-president and co-chief executive officer of Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder Holdings, Inc. In addition, he serves as the president of and a trustee of the First Eagle Funds. Arnhold joined FEIM in 1983 following positions with Chase and Lehman Brothers. In addition to his directorships at FEIM and its affiliates, he is a director of Arnhold Ceramics and the Quantum Endowment Fund, as well as on the International Advisory Board of Hanseatic Asset Management. Additionally, he is a director of the Arnhold Foundation, which focuses on education, conservation and the arts; and the Mulago Foundation, which advances global health initiatives. Arnhold is a member of the board of trustees and the investment committees of Trinity Episcopal Schools Corporation, where he was a past president, as well as Vassar College. He also serves on the board of directors of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Arnhold is a graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara.

Mark D. Ein is the founder and chief executive officer of Venturehouse Group, LLC, a technology holding company that creates, invests in and builds technology and telecommunications companies. He is also the founder and chief executive officer of Capitol Acquisition Corporation (AMEX: CLA.U), a special purpose acquisition vehicle formed for the purpose of making an acquisition of a growth company. Through Leland Investments Inc, his personal investment holding company, Ein is the co-chairman and principal shareholder of Kastle Systems, LLC, one of the country’s leading providers of building and office security systems. He is also the founder and owner of the Washington Kastles, the first World Team Tennis franchise in Washington D.C. Ein is a native of the Washington area, where he actively supports many community, charitable and cultural organizations. He serves on the Board of Directors of The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), The Economic Club of Washington D.C., The District of Columbia College Access Program (DC-CAP), The Tennis Center at College Park and The Potomac Officers Club. He also serves on the Steering Committee for the Business Executives for National Security (BENS) DC, the Advisory Board of the Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund, the Donor Advisory Group for the FasterCures Philanthropy Advisory Service, and the Selection Committee for the George J. Mitchell Scholarship program. Ein is an executive producer of Kicking It, a documentary film about the Homeless World Cup of Soccer, that was shown at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and has formed distribution deals with both ESPN and Netflix. Ein is a graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and he earned his M.B.A. from The Harvard Business School.

Renée A.R. Evangelista is the co-managing partner of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Rhode Island Offices, where she is focused on sophisticated estate planning for an array of clients including professional athletes, venture capitalists, retirees, family business owners, CEOs, trust companies and banks. Evangelista is an appointed member, by the Rhode Island Supreme Court, to the Rhode Island Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission (MCLE), and she has served on the Rhode Island Board of Bar Examiners. Besides Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, Evangelista is an appointed member to the Board of Trustees for The Wheeler School in Providence, R.I., and she serves on the Executive Committee of the Institute for International Sport. She served as chair of the Ethics Subcommittee and as a member of the Financial Subcommittee for the Women’s Sports Foundation in New York, a foundation established by Billie Jean King. Evangelista has served on the Development Committee for the International Tennis Hall of Fame for several years.

James (Jim) L. Farley is the president, managing partner and co-founder of Nursing Care Management, Inc., a privately held long-term care company with ownership and management of nursing facilities, home health care and hospice services and other related companies.  Prior to this position, he was a successful hospital administrator/executive for approximately 15 years. Farley served on the Board of the American College of Nursing Home Administrators where he was the national president/chairman in the early 1990′s. Farley is active within his community, having served as a bank board of director, president of the Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Ohio Health Care Administrators Licensure Board and president of the State Hospital Association. Farley is an avid tennis player and he has served as president of the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Association, founder and chairman of the Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame and chairman of  USTA/Midwest Committees. Farley and his wife and two daughters have been active and successful in tennis, and were named the National Tennis Family of the Year in 1990 by the United States Tennis Association. The Farley family owns and manages the Western Tennis and Fitness Club in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Philip H. Geier, Jr., served as chairman and chief executive officer of the Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. from 1980 through 2000. In February 2001, Geier formed The Geier Group to provide consulting/advisory services in the marketing, communications, and venture capital areas. Additionally, Geier is a senior advisor for Lazard Frères & Co., LLC and serves on the Board of Directors of AEA Investors Inc., AgKnowlege Holdings Company, Inc., and Cross MediaWorks. He has retired from the Boards of Fiduciary Trust International, Alcon Labs Inc., Mettler-Toledo International Inc., and Foot Locker Inc. Geier’s philanthropic director/trustee relationships include Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Save the Children, Autism Speaks, Columbia Business School, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Mr. Geier holds a B.A. in Economics from Colgate University (1957) and an M.B.A. in Marketing and Finance from Columbia University (1958).

Madam Sun Jinfang is currently the administrative vice president of the Chinese Tennis Association. She has served in this position since 2004. Madam Sun is also an executive board member of the Chinese Olympic Committee, as well as the director of Tennis Administrative Centre of General Administration of Sport of China. From 2001 – 2004, Madam Sun served as the director of the National Sports Lottery. Prior to that she held the position of deputy director of the Sports Administration Department in Jiangsu Province since 1983. Madam Sun was elected as a top 10 sports person in China in both 1981 and 1982. From 1971-1982, she was a renown volleyball competitor, and she was a member of the Chinese championship Volleyball World Cup team in 1981, as well as the winning team at the Women’s Volleyball Championships in 1982.

Katherine  Burton Jones is the director of development at the Museum of African American History – Boston and Nantucket. She was the assistant dean for information technology and media services at the Harvard Divinity School from 2000 to 2009. With Paul Marty (FSU faculty), she is an editor of and contributor to the book Museum Informatics (2007). She is the editor of The Wired Museum: Emerging Technology and Changing Paradigms (1997), a book available from the American Association of Museums. Jones has written many articles on the use of emerging technologies for museum. Her current research interests focus on the use of technologies in support of the mission of non-profit organizations and on social marketing. Jones is a former president of the Board of Directors of the Museum Computer Network and a former member of the New England Museum Association Board of Directors. She holds a graduate degree in Anthropology from Florida State University.

Geoff Pollard AM is retiring in October 2010 after serving Tennis Australia with distinction as its president for 21 years from 1989 – 2010. Pollard was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1988. As president and chairman of Tennis Australia, Pollard has led the Association through on and off court achievement and a significant corporate governance change to convert Tennis Australia from an amateur association to a modern and successful professional corporate body. During Pollard’s tenure, Tennis Australia has become profitable and has substantially increased national player development initiatives, among many other successes. As chairman of the Australian Open, Pollard has overseen the development of the tournament from an Australian Championships, whose Grand Slam status was in jeopardy, to one which is now at least equal, and in some cases the leader, with the other Grand Slams. In particular he has taken the Australian Open from being primarily a domestic event to becoming Australia’s largest annual international sporting event worth between $150 and $250 million annually to the Victorian economy. Pollard has been elected by his international peers as vice president of the International Tennis Federation, president of the Oceania Tennis Federation, chairman of the ITF Rules of Tennis Committee and Chairman of the ITF Technical Commission, and member of many other worldwide committees such as WTA Tour Board, Grand Slam Committee and Davis Cup Committee.

Will Prest is chief marketing officer and head of business development for Transamerica Retirement Management, Inc. (TRM), where he has steered the development of branding, marketing, and the online businesses from the ground up since its 2006 launch. Since then, Prest has taken on responsibility for growing outside distribution directly with employers and through various intermediaries such as group benefit brokers, affinity groups, and health care companies. Prior to joining TRM, Prest served as vice president of field development and national sales support for H&R Block Financial Advisors, where he developed the strategic direction for delivering the company’s financial advice through a sales force of 1,000 advisors across a national network of 140 branches. Prest also served as vice president of financial planning for MetLife Financial Services where he built and implemented a fee-based financial planning platform across a field force of 6,200. Prest also spent more than eight years in various regional, sales management and marketing roles for American Express Financial Advisors, including region director for the Eastern U.S. Prest holds an M.B.A. from Boston University, Graduate School of Management, and a B.A. in Psychology from Pitzer College in Claremont, California.

Michele Sicard is a managing director and head of corporate communications for North America for BNP Paribas. In this role Sicard is in charge of devising and implementing BNP Paribas communication strategy in North and South America, including coordination with Bank of the West, BNP Paribas retail banking division in the United States and BNP Paribas’ offices in Latin America, and ensuring both are aligned with the Group’s global strategy. Areas under her leadership include media relations, advertising, sponsorships, charities, internal communications and client events. Sicard has been with the BNP Paribas for more than 10 years and has held this position since 2006. Prior to BNP Paribas, Sicard was head of press and public relations for GAN – CIC Group, an insurance and finance group. She has also worked as an Account Manager for Agence Véronique Foucault Conseil, a public relations firm in Paris.

Ken Solomon is chairman and chief executive officer of Tennis Channel. In this position, he leads the continued growth of cable television’s ultimate destination for everything tennis, utilizing more than 20 years of cable, new media, TV production, distribution and advertising experience. Solomon has held top posts at Universal Television, DreamWorks, News Corp. and Scripps, and prior to Tennis Channel, he founded and led Fine Living Network, where he developed the network from concept to launch in just over a year. Earlier in his career, as president of Universal Studios Television (also Studios USA Television), Solomon oversaw program and asset development and distribution activities on a worldwide basis for primetime network, cable, syndication, and made-for-television movies. During his tenure Universal captured the Emmy award for best drama with “Law & Order” and pioneered the licensing of an original series across multiple network platforms with “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” to NBC and USA Network. Earlier in his career, he served as executive vice president of network distribution at Fox Broadcasting, leading the network through its transitional ascending period where he was responsible for all network affiliate relations, as well as leading the network’s successful transition of dozens of CBS, ABC and NBC affiliates to Fox, and launching the NFL and NHL franchises. Solomon has served on the board and the executive committee of leading trade association NATPE International. Among his numerous accolades, Solomon has been honored as “Humanitarian of the Year” by H.E.L.P. Group, one of the largest and most influential children’s charities in the western United States.

George Gowen has served the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum as General Counsel for 30 years. Gowen is a partner at Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller in New York, where he is a member of DBM’s estate, trust and private clients, corporate, art law and not-for-profit religious and charitable institutions practice groups. Gowen is a member of the New York Bar Association, Sports Lawyers Association and International Court of Arbitration for Sport, Lausanne, Switzerland. Additionally, he served in the U.S. Army and he has served on United Nations Commissions. Gowen is an adjunct professor at New York University Graduate School of Business Administration. He is an alumnus of Princeton University, and he earned his J.D. at the University of Virginia.

Located in Newport, Rhode Island, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum offers an extensive museum that chronicles the history of the sport and honors the game’s greatest legends, historic grass tennis courts that date back to 1880 and are open to the public, an ATP World Tour tournament and the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in July, and numerous public events year-round. To learn more, visit tennisfame.com.
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About the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum
Established in 1954, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of tennis, inspiring and encouraging junior tennis development, enshrining tennis heroes and heroines, and providing a landmark for tennis enthusiasts worldwide. The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum was recognized as the sport’s official Hall of Fame in 1986 by the International Tennis Federation, the governing body of tennis. The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is supported by Official Partners, such as BNP Paribas. For information on the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and its programs, call 401-849-3990 or visit us online at www.tennisfame.com.

On Friday, the 20^th seed said this in his post interview press conference: “We have a lot of Americans here.  None of us play on center court.  If you go to the French Open, they have Gasquet, Benneteau, Monfils; they’re on center court every day.”

A fair statement from the Los Angeles native, but he has to understand, unlike London, Paris or Melbourne, he’s in New York, maybe the most international city in the world. The home of the United Nations, where its citizen hail from every part of the world. This is the home of the Yankees, and everyone knows New Yorkers like their winners.

So Flushing Meadows demands don’t meet the standards of any other major, let alone tournament, in the world, as the New Yorkers and those who fly into the city to see the Open want to see the best players in the world showcased and not just the Americans.

At Roland Garros, the crowd is mainly French, as it’s a very provincial city and that’s why you see French nationals getting showcased.

And frankly, Querrey should also understand he doesn’t have the pedigree to be demanding anything from the Open. He has a won six tournaments in his career with four of them coming in 2010. His highest was winning Memphis back in February which was a Tour 500 win with the rest being 250s. Frankly he’s not the name and draw the US Open is looking at to showcase. In all honesty, Querrey is not a household name, rather a someone the hardcore tennis fans know. He’s an up and comer, but still hasn’t made his mark.

Querrey, though, may have said this out of annoyance. There were very few people in his presser on Friday, with that being his final statement of his five questions.

Today, after reaching the Quarterfinals, after beating Nicolas Almagro, 6-4 6-3 6-3, he was asked to clarify his remarks.

“I definitely don’t think it could hurt,” he said.  “It’s maybe comfortable ‑‑ I think we would feel more comfortable if we ‑‑ especially if John [Isner], Mardy [Fish], and myself for the first rounds played on Ashe, instead of playing on Armstrong, Grandstand, and all of a sudden you’re out on Ashe for the first time.

“I definitely think it would help.  I don’t know what goes into the schedule.  I know a lot of it is TV and stuff like that.  It would be nice if we could play a few more matches on Ashe.  But, you know, I don’t have any control over that.”

Actually he does have control. If Querrey wants to be a mainstay on Arthur Ashe, then all he has to do is win. You don’t see Andy Roddick getting bumped to Armstrong or the Grandstand and the Williams sisters always play on centre court. And back in the day Andre Agassi always got the main stage, even at the end of his career because the crowd demanded it.

If the US Open wanted to go the route of showcasing the middle seeds on Ashe, then the top players would get bumped. Try telling Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal they have to go to Armstrong, because room needs to be made for Querrey, Isner, and Fish.

And frankly, Querrey has little to complain about. Armstrong seats 10,000 people, and when he is out there, it’s usually a packed house behind America’s best remaining hope.

Right now, Querrey has little to worry about. He is going to be on Ashe for the rest of the tournament and if he happens to win the Open, he would have secured a spot for himself the rest of his career.

But now he needs to produce, because everything else seems like petty griping.

“For the past two years, the US Open Green Initiatives have been among the most successful environmental endeavors of any sports property,” said Lucy S. Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA, and Chairman of the US Open.  “The continued expansion of the green initiatives will help keep the USTA, the US Open and tennis fans worldwide at the forefront of the global effort to preserve the environment.”

The USTA will continue to work with top environmental agency, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), as well as Billie Jean King’s GreenSlam and Eco Evolutions to develop ongoing initiatives to further reduce the US Open’s carbon footprint and overall environmental impact.

In addition to the new Alec Baldwin PSAs, new initiatives for 2010 will include site-wide composting on the grounds at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and the employment of two area undergraduates as part of Billie Jean King’s GreenTernship program.

In 2007, Billie Jean King founded and launched GreenSlam, an environmental initiative for the sports industry aimed at inspiring sports venues, promoters and manufacturers to make positive environmental impacts. In 2009, GreenSlam launched its GreenTernship program, designed to involve youth with green job training and the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the eco-sports movement.  The US Open will employ two GreenTerns from New York University to assist with the Green Initiatives. For more information, go to www.greenslam.net.

Green Initiatives at the 2010 US Open

Fan Awareness

• Alec Baldwin and Billie Jean King once again serve as spokespeople for the awareness campaign to promote environmental consciousness among US Open fans, players, vendors, partners and sponsors, and two new PSAs featuring Baldwin will air on the JumboTron/videoboards throughout the grounds.
• 2010 US Open Green Initiatives are featured in the official US Open program.
• USOpen.org will feature an interview with Billie Jean King about the GreenTernship program.
• NRDC’s Simple Steps (environmental tips) will be featured in the Daily Drawsheet.

Recycling

• A consumer waste recycling program for plastic and cans and an operational recycling program for cardboard and glass cover 100% of the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
• Following the US Open, approximately 20,000 Wilson tennis ball cans are recycled.  The 60,000 Wilson tennis balls used during the US Open are reused for NTC programming and then donated to community/youth programs.

Energy Management

• Constellation Energy, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center’s electricity supplier, will supply Green-e Certified wind Renewable Energy Certificates to match the Center’s electricity consumption during the 2010 US Open.
• IBM, which powers USOpen.org, will continue to utilize just six servers, down from 60 in 2008.  Their energy consumption has been reduced by 40% and their cooling demand reduced by 48%.

Transportation

• Hybrid vehicles are 55-60% of the Mercedes-Benz player transportation fleet, up from 40% in 2009.
• Each day during the two-week event, Esurance, the car insurance company, is distributing daily 125 MetroCards worth $4.50 to encourage the use of mass transit to and from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Paper Procurement

• The 2.4 million napkins used by US Open patrons in the general concession area during the tournament are comprised of 90% post-consumer waste, while Grey Goose napkins are comprised of 100% recycled content.
• The Daily Drawsheet and US Open marketing material are printed on paper comprised of 30% post-consumer waste and printed by companies certified by the Forest Stewardship Council – guaranteeing environmentally-responsible forest management.
• US Open tickets are printed on paper comprised of 30% post-consumer waste, and parking books, parking visors and coupon books are printed on paper comprised of 10-15% post-consumer waste.
• 100% of paper towel dispensers have been replaced with motion-sensor dispensers and all paper towels are comprised of 40% post-consumer waste.

US Open Merchandise

• The US Open collection will feature hats comprised of 50% post-consumer waste – each hat will contain the equivalent of two one-liter plastic bottles.
• US Open merchandise stores will feature a souvenir-style shopping bag designed for multiple uses with a “recycle and reuse” message printed on the bottom.  In addition, a reusable tote bag will be available for $5.
• A $10,000 donation from US Open merchandise proceeds will go to Unisphere, Inc., the non-profit organization that maintains and preserves Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Food & Serviceware

• Utensils, plates, cups, etc. are comprised of bio-based materials.
• The Stonyfield Café is added to the Food Village and will feature a grab-and-go dining option serving healthy food, fast – options are all-natural and/or organic, and locally grown.

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The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game.  A not-for-profit organization with 750,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Olympus US Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns the 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., is a minority owner and promotional partner of World TeamTennis, and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA philanthropic entity, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and through tennis, helps underserved youth and people with disabilities to improve academics, build character and strive for excellence. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.