USPTA Grass Court Championships Set For Scottsdale

HOUSTON – The final tournament in the 2015 USPTA Surface Championship series will be in Scottsdale, Ariz., this month. The 2015 USPTA Grass Court Championships presented by PaycheckCity.com are set to begin May 29 at the Desert Highlands Racquet Club and will run through May 31. Total prize money for the event is $6,000, and this four-day tournament is open for registration to USPTA-certified Professionals through May 19.

This year’s tournament will mark the first time since 2011 that grass will be a part of the USPTA Surface Championship Series. The USPTA Grass Court Championships will be the final tournament to qualify for the USPTA Master’s Invitational in New Orleans.

Featured divisions include the following categories: men's and women's open singles and doubles competition, men’s and women’s 35 singles, men's and women's 45 singles and 45 doubles, men’s 55 singles and doubles, men’s 65 singles and doubles, and mixed open and 45 doubles.

Desert Highlands sits in the Sonoran Desert nestled in the granite boulders of the Pinnacle Peak summit. The club has annually hosted the USTA Junior Grass & Clay Court Championships since 2003 and the USTA Senior Slam Grass Court Championships since 2012. Desert Highlands was listed as one of the “6 Great Places to Retire” by Tennis magazine in 2006 and awarded Court of the Year by Tennis Industry magazine in 2000. It also serves as host for ATP and WTA tour players preparing on clay and grass surfaces for upcoming tournaments.

As a benefit to USPTA-certified members, the surface championships provide an opportunity to play against other USPTA Professionals, showcase skills, and win prize money.  Members who play in the surface championships have the opportunity to play their way into the USPTA Master’s Invitational. The brand new event will be held at the 2015 USPTA World Conference in New Orleans. This tournament, which replaces the International Championships, gives USPTA-certified Professionals an added opportunity to showcase their skills and earn a portion of the $15,000 prize money, which is the largest amount awarded of all the USPTA tournaments.

Players receive points in both the main draw (if they win at least one match) and in consolation play (if it is offered). In consolation matches, a player or team advancing by default will receive credit for a win as long as that player or team does not default the next match. Doubles players will receive individual rankings.

Entry deadline for the 2015 USPTA Grass Court Championships is May 19, and registration is online at USPTAPlayer.com.

The USPTA Surface Championships are open to all USPTA-certified Professionals in good standing. To see the current rankings or learn more about ranking rules, sanctioned tournaments, and tournament regulations and requirements, go to uspta.com/tournaments. All tournaments are run through usptaplayer.com.

USPTA Grass Court Championships
May 29-31, 2015
Desert Highlands
Scottsdale, AZ

USPTA Masters Invitational
Sept. 21-23, 2015
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
New Orleans, LA