For 67 years Kalamazoo and more specifically Kalamazoo College has hosted the annual
USTA Boys' 18 & 16 2010 United States Tennis Association National Championships.
This year, the event gets under way Friday, Aug. 6, continues through Aug. 15, and 400 players from across the United States will be part of the 10-day competition considered the most important event of the year for junior tennis players.
The event, also affectionately called Nats at the Zoo, has become known as the place to discover who will be up and coming in the sport, making it one of the biggest tourist draws for Kalamazoo.
During the past 67 years, most of the great names in mens' tennis have headed the draws in Kalamazoo. Names such as Rod Laver, Stan Smith, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Aaron Krickstein, Michael Chang, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, James Blake, Andy Roddick, Bob and Mike Bryan, Sam Querry and many more. This year's tournament will highlight a new generation of future stars.
A highly anticipated highlight of Tournament Week in Kalamazoo is the
Rx Optical,
Greenleaf Trust, and
Greenleaf Hospitality exhibition featuring Scoville Jenkins and Jan-Michael Gambill scheduled for the evening of Friday, Aug 6.
The Championships return each year to Kalamazoo College's Stowe Tennis Stadium, drawn by its 11 well-maintained hard-courts and seating for more than 3,000 spectators. Western Michigan University also offers the contestants use of their 20-court Raymond Sorensen complex as needed. The Markin Racquet Center on the campus of
Kalamazoo College, provides four indoor courts that can be used during inclement weather.
Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: USTA
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