DUNLOP BECOMES TITLE SPONSOR OF MAJOR JUNIOR TENNIS EVENT

Written by: Staff on 27th January 2012

DUNLOP BECOMES TITLE SPONSOR OF MAJOR JUNIOR TENNIS EVENT |

CHARLESTON, S.C. (January 27, 2012) – Dunlop Sports has rebranded the Family Circle Tennis Center’s popular Junior Cup as the Dunlop Junior Tennis Championship, scheduled February 18 – 20, 2012, at the Family Circle Tennis Center. The 11th annual event will continue to bring over 350 regionally and nationally ranked juniors to Charleston, the Best Tennis Town in America, where the singles champion in the Girls 18 division will receive a wild card into the 2012 Family Circle Cup qualifying tournament.

Murphy Jensen, former ATP professional and 1993 Roland Garros Doubles Champion (w/ brother Luke), will lead tournament participants in a special clinic and other entertaining activities on Saturday afternoon, February 18th, inside Family Circle Stadium.

The tournament is open to Girls and Boys ages 8-18, and features six age divisions for each gender: Boys and Girls Singles 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18. For a second year in a row, the 8-and-under age division will be played on the Family Circle Tennis Center’s Lucy Garvin 10 and Under Tennis courts, which is the Charleston area’s only permanent 10 and Under Tennis facility. All divisions feature a new dual 16-draw format with a feed-in consolation up to the quarterfinals, with the exception of the 64 draw Girls 18 division. The tournament is sanctioned by the USTA, STA and SCTA, and boasts Level 3 Southern Tournament status, offering greater ranking points per round than a standard tournament.

Dunlop is the official ball, racquet and accessory of the Family Circle Tennis Center on a year-round basis, as well as the official ball of the Dunlop Junior Tennis Championship and Family Circle Cup. All tournament matches will be played with this professional quality championship ball.

“Dunlop’s support of this top junior tournament, our year-round partnership with the Family Circle Tennis Center, and our sponsorship of the Family Circle Cup combine to illustrate our commitment to American tennis,” said Hunter Hines, Director of Product and Marketing – Tennis, Dunlop Sports. “These young players are our future, and as a company based in South Carolina, we’re proud to stand behind these competitors as they mature into the stars of tomorrow.”

The Dunlop Junior Tennis Championship includes over 350 participants, typically traveling with their families, who book an estimated 1,250 room nights and spend an average of $170 daily, resulting in a $272,000 economic impact to the Charleston area.

“We couldn’t be happier with our relationship with Dunlop. This sponsorship brings the event to a whole new level by attracting the highest-level players in the South, and enhancing their experience while in Charleston,” said Rob Eppelsheimer, Director, Facilities and Tennis Development – Family Circle Tennis Center. “This event has become a magnet for top juniors who want to compete against the best of the best.”

Players will use Tournament ID # 704140612 to register on-line via TennisLink at USTA.com through 11:59 pm EST on February 12th. There is a $54.25 entry fee for the 12 – 18 divisions, a $38.13 entry fee for 8 – 10 divisions, and registration is only available via TennisLink. For more info, contact Nancy Heinz at nancy.heinz@familycirclecup.com or Rebecca Kubovcsak at rebecca.kubovcsak@familycirclecup.com.

The Family Circle Tennis Center will serve as the tournament’s host site, with additional matches held at the Mt. Pleasant Recreation Department’s Whipple Road facility, Daniel Island Club, and the College of Charleston Tennis Complex at Patriot’s Point. The finals of each division are scheduled for Sunday, February 19th, with the Girls 18 final to be held on Monday, February 20th at the Family Circle Tennis Center. Lunch will be provided Saturday of the event for all participants by Chick-fil-A of North Mount Pleasant.

The Family Circle Tennis Center, home of the Family Circle Cup and World TeamTennis Finals Weekend, is a public facility owned by the City of Charleston and operated by Meredith Corporation that also hosts a variety of additional events including concerts, festivals, tennis tournaments and other activities throughout the year. The Tennis Center features a 10,200 seat stadium, Grand Lawn, 17 tennis courts lighted for night play, Pro Shop, and a full service event management staff capable of handling all aspects of an event including ticketing, operations, sales, marketing, public relations, and food & beverage. Charleston, South Carolina was named was named the “No. 1 tourist destination in America” in the 2011 Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards, and Charleston was also voted the “Best Tennis Town in America” in a 2010 USTA contest.

Family Circle is the longest running title sponsor of a sporting event in the United States, as well as in all of professional tennis, world-wide. With over 21 million readers, Family Circle is one of the most widely read monthly magazines in America and is one of 14 leading subscription magazines owned by Meredith Corporation. The Family Circle Cup receives four days of live broadcast domestically on ESPN2, and is viewed internationally in over 25 countries, featuring over 200 hours of live and delayed global broadcast time, reaching 8.54 million viewers worldwide.

Topics: Dunlop, Family Circle Tennis