USTA League Presented by Chrysler Southern Section Championships Breaks All Records

Event Photos
( Captain's Meeting / Action Photos )

The USTA Southern Section staff anticipated a big turn out for this year’s USTA League Tennis Southern Sectional Championshipsheld held July 22-30 in Charleston, SC.  The tournament was held at various tennis facilities located on Daniel Island, Mt. Pleasant, and Downtown Charleston. For an event that is billed as the “World’s Largest Tennis Tournament”, the championships became even bigger this year.

Before the end of the tournament, it was announced that the 2006 event had set a new participation record. Over the course of the tournament 219 teams were in competition which translated into 2,102 participants. Competitors from nine different states (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) representing various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations traveled to Charleston that week to have fun on and off the court.

In January of 2004, the City of Charleston was selected to host the event for two years (2005 and 2006). During the tournament week, matches were played at seven different sites in the Charleston area, including the Family Circle Tennis Center, Snee Farm Country Club, Creekside Tennis Center, Daniel Island Tennis Club, College of Charleston, Mt. Pleasant Tennis Center, and The Citadel Tennis Complex. The Family Circle Tennis Center served as the official Tournament headquarters. The 2006 USA League Tennis Southern Sectional Championships was projected to have an economic impact of more than $4 million dollars for the Charleston community according to the Center for Business Research at the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.

USTA League Tennis was established to provide adult recreational tennis players throughout the country with the opportunity to compete against players of similar ability levels. Players participate on teams in a league format, which is administered by the USTA through its 17 Sections. Men’s and women's team competition starts with the 2.5 division (beginner) and moves up to the 5.5 level (advanced). Adult division teams play two singles and three doubles matches, except for the 2.5, 5.0 and 5.5 levels, which instead play one singles and two doubles matches. In the senior division (over 50 years of age), teams competed in levels 2.5 through 4.5, and play three doubles matches.

In full draws, two groups of five teams competed in round robin play with the winner of each group advancing to the finals. In total, 430 team matches comprised of 1,626 individual matches were played.

“Every year the championships seem to grow more exciting,” explains Tournament Chairman Dodie Hanchett. “The experience of the sectional championships is truly incredible; eight days of intense tennis, team camaraderie and a fabulous city made for a wonderfully successful event.”

Established in 1980, USTA League Tennis has grown from 13,000 participants in a few parts of the country in its first year, to over 585,000 players across the nation today, making it the world’s largest recreational tennis program. There are over 100,000 adult and senior players in the Southern Section alone. The program is open to women and men 19 years of age and older. Players from over 100 cities in the nine Southern states experience the team camaraderie and intense competition as play progresses through local, state, and sectional play, culminating in a national championship for each skill level in the fall.

"Each team competed with one goal in mind,” explained Marilyn Sherman, director of adult tennis for the USTA Southern Section. “They are were vying for that Sectional title so that they can have the honor of representing the Southern Section in the National Championships."

The 2006 tournament was presented by the USTA Southern Section in cooperation with strong local volunteer support. Chrysler is entering its first year as the presenting sponsor and official vehicle of the USTA League Tennis program. Penn Racquet Sports is in its 19th year as official ball of USTA League Tennis and Bullfrog is an official sponsor of the USTA League Tennis Southern Sectional Championships.

Founded in 1881, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in this country. In addition to owning the US Open and selecting members of the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic teams, the USTA administers a variety of programs nationwide for players of all ages and ability levels. A not-for-profit organization, the association is divided into 17 sections, of which the USTA Southern Section is the largest. The 165,000+ USTA members living in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee make up the USTA Southern Section, and account for approximately 25% of the total USTA membership. A professional staff housed in Norcross, GA carries out the USTA Southern Section’s daily operations, but policy is formed and much of the organization’s work is executed via a Board and committee structure of over 200 volunteers. For more information about the types of programs and services offered by the USTA Southern Section visit www.southerntennis.com.