Family Circle Cup 35th Anniversary Celebration

The Family Circle Cup has proudly invited tennis enthusiasts and fans worldwide to take part in its 35th anniversary celebration! In recognition of countless accomplishments and historical milestones in women’s tennis, this storied event offers a thrilling week-long celebration of world class tennis including on-site and off-site entertainment and a host of other special activities and superstar appearances from April 12 - 20th, 2008 at the award winning Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, South Carolina.

This premier Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event has achieved its well-deserved status among patrons and players alike through years of going the extra mile to assure that everyone has a great time at this event. This success didn’t happen overnight, but the reward has been well worth the effort.

The early 70's were a period of uncertainty for women's tennis, but also a time of hope for young women with dreams of playing professional sports with the recognition, equality, and respect their male counterparts were enjoying. Family Circle magazine stepped up to the challenge by sponsoring the event in 1973, and holds the record in women's professional tennis as the longest running event sponsored by the same company. Family Circle was the first women's magazine to fully underwrite a professional women's sporting event, and has been a pioneer in women's professional sports creating milestones that have directly influenced the popularity of the WTA Tour. For more than 70 years, this magazine’s encouragement of women to reach their full potential has empowered women through its articles, ideas and inspiration.

Rich in tradition, the Family Circle Cup was the first women's tennis event to offer a $100,000 in prize money. As the first Family Circle Cup champion, Rosie Casals received a check for $30,000, which was the largest prize money payout awarded to a woman that year. Even more remarkably, the Family Circle Cup was the first women’s tennis event to be broadcast on network television in 1973. Millions of viewers became instant fans as this tournament launched women's tennis on its way to the heights that the game has reached in present times. Today, the tournament receives four days of coverage on ESPN2, and is also broadcast on Eurosport to over 95 million homes in Europe.

In 2001, the Family Circle Cup made a bold move to secure its success. After over twenty years in Hilton Head, the event moved to the newly constructed award-winning Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston. This state-of-the-art facility not only serves as the home of the Family Circle Cup, but also provides residents of greater Charleston access to one of the finest tennis facilities in the southeast.

Thriving in its new home, the Family Circle Cup has sparked tremendous tennis growth in and around Charleston. USTA leagues have grown exponentially, new tennis facilities have opened around the Charleston area, and Family Circle Cup attendance has shown steady growth over the past seven years that currently boasts over 90,000 fans annually. Through its success, this action-packed event has been able to consistently improve the fan experience each and every year. The Family Circle Cup is more than a world class tennis tournament, it’s an entertaining nine-day festival for patrons of all ages.

To thank all of the supportive and dedicated fans, the 35th anniversary celebration will showcase the excitement and revelry of the game in a tournament considered to be one of the most intimate and fan-friendly events of the year. This rare opportunity is your chance to relish in historical moments with today’s tennis heroes, as well as a distinguished group of the game’s legends, who are making a special trip to join the festivities.

A wide selection of off-court activities are planned which are sure to complete any tennis experience. The fabulous LACOSTE fashion show returns for the third consecutive year and will again feature models and star WTA Tour players walking the runway in the latest LACOSTE on King Street in downtown Charleston. Prior to the start of the tournament’s first night session, a special “35th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration” will include an exciting pre-match ceremony as well as a fireworks display at the conclusion of the evening.

While at the tournament, be sure to explore the grounds where you’ll experience Match Point Market and Sponsor Row. If you’re looking for top-notch tennis instruction, make a reservation to attend the popular “Winning in Doubles” luncheon with a selection of the WTA Tour’s top doubles players. With these activities and much, much more, there’s truly something for everyone to enjoy.