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Hard Court Season Officially Begins. U.S. Open Series 2009. Here's the Schedule.

It's hard court tournament season and the pickins' are bountiful. Here's a list of where, when and how to get more info about the 2009 Olympus US Open Series:

Indianapolis, IN, Indianapolis Tennis Championships, July 18 -26, 2009 (ATP);

Los Angeles, CA,  L.A. Tennis Open  July 27- August 2 (ATP);

Los Angeles, CA, L.A. Women's Tennis Championships, August 3-9 (WTA) ;

Stanford, CA, Bank of the West Classic, July 27-August 2 (WTA);

Washington D.C., Legg Mason Tennis Classic, August 1-9 (ATP);

Montreal, Canada, Rogers Cup, August 8-16 (ATP);

Cincinnati, OH, Western & Southern Financial Group Masters, August 17-23 (ATP) and

Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open, August 10-16 (WTA).

Toronto, Canada, Rogers Cup, August 15-23 (WTA);

New Haven, CT, Pilot Pen Tennis, August 21-29 (WTA/ATP);

New York, NY, U.S. Open 2009, August 31- September 13 (WTA, ATP).

Get yourself out there and enjoy! The early rounds are just as fun as the finals.

Just can't get there? The Tennis Channel, ESPN2 and CBS have you covered. Here's the TV Schedule.

Live Tennis South: Andy Roddick to Headline WTT Smash Hit Charity Night Hosted by Billie Jean King and Sir Elton John.

Good tennis for a good cause. On December 8, 2009, longtime friends Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King will bring their annual Advanta WTT Smash Hits charity night of tennis to Louisiana for the first
time in the event's 17-year history. Andy Roddick and other top players will compete at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge.

Captained by King and John, the players will form two teams and play five sets of World
TeamTennis (WTT). John will participate in a celebrity doubles match to open the event. All proceeds from the night will go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and regional Louisiana AIDS charities.

Special VIP ticket packages are available now. For more information visit WTT.

Image: Fred & Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA

Venus Williams and Andy Murray Kick Off the Sony Ericsson Open with Traffic Tennis. Watch the Tournament Live, on TV or Online

 

Venus Williams and Andy Murray kicked off the 2009 Sony Ericsson Open with a little "Traffic Tennis" atop two SUV's on Miami's Ocean Drive yesterday. The tournament runs March 25 - April 5. World Men's #1 Rafael Nadal will open play on the purple courts, March 28.

If you are in the area visit the Sony Ericsson Open website for ticket information. Click here for where to watch on tv and here for an online tournament pass via Tennis TV. Enjoy. Love that dress Venus! Talk about Miami heat.

 Getty Images/Courtesy Sony Ericsson Open/WTA tour

Andre Agassi to Join Advanta WTT Pro League. 2009 Summer Schedule Chock Full of Star-Power.

 Andre Agassi will return to professional tennis competition this summer, playing two matches for the Philadelphia Freedoms of the Advanta World Team Tennis Pro League, July 10 in Philly and 17 in Newport Beach, California.

The league's plans include 73 matches in 10 markets, July 2-26. The Eastern and Western Conference Champions will battle for the Advanta WTT Championship title on July 26.

Agassi joins other marquee players: Serena Williams/Washington Kastles (July 9, 10, 13, 14); Venus Williams/Philadelphia Freedoms (July 7, 8, 9); Martina Navratilova/Boston Lobsters (July 14, 15, 16, 21); John McEnroe/New York Sportimes (July 13, 15, 16, 21); Anna Kournikova/St. Louis Aces (July 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13); Michael Chang/Sacramento Capitals (July 10); and Bob and Mike Bryan/Kansas City Explorers (July 17, 18, 19, 21).

Learn more about the Advanta WTT Pro League, players, venues, dates and tickets at WTT.

Image: Fred and Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA.

Davis Cup Tie Expected to Feature Three of the Top 10 Players in the World. U.S. vs. Switzerland, March 6-8 in Birmingham, Alabama.

 

Watch live Davis Cup action in Birmingham, Alabama March 6-8 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena. This is the 2009 Davis Cup first round tie between the U.S.and Switzerland. The names? You know 'em all. Andy Roddick, James Blake and Bob and Mike Bryan are expected to play for the USA. Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka are slated for Switzerland's roster among others TBA. Davis Cup (founded in 1900) is the world's largest annual international team competition.

Tickets go on sale Friday, January 16, 2009 at 12 PM CST. They are sold as a three day series and range from $60 to $500. Learn more at USTA or buy tickets at Ticketmaster. You can also call: 888-484-8782.

Image courtesy USTA.

2009 Outback Champions Series Schedule Announced. Eight Tournaments Including New Events in Brazil and Mexico.

The 2009 Outback Champions Series offers up a series of global tennis events featuring some of the biggest names in the game now over age 30: Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Stefan Edberg and more. To be eligible to compete, players must have reached a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world in singles or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Yes hot-shot, they can still take you down 0 and 0.

In addition to single elimination singles, each six-player event will also feature special doubles exhibition matches which are really a treat to see as doubles gets a bit neglected when it comes to pro tennis television coverage. The 2009 Outback Champions Series schedule is as follows:

Champions Cup Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, Feb. 13-15; Rio Champions Cup, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 12-15; The Del Mar Development Champions Cup, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, March 18-22; The Residences at The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships, Grand Cayman, April 23-26; International Tennis Hall of Fame Champions Cup, Newport, Rhode Island, August 19-23; The Citadel Group Championships at The Palisades, Charlotte, North Carolina, September 25-27; Cancer Treatment Centers of America Championships at Surprise, Surprise, Arizona, November 6-8; Emirates NBD, The Legends Rock Dubai, Dubai, U.A.E., Nov. 19-21. Learn more at Champions Series Tennis. Watch for Tennis Channel coverage of some of these events as well.

The Dunlop Orange Bowl. Where Winning Can Make a Career in Tennis. Go Watch If You Can.

If you are in the area, check out some of the world's best boys and girls,16s and 18s, at the 62nd Annual Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships in Key Biscayne, Florida at the Crandon Park Tennis Center. The event which runs through November 14 has become a springboard to pro status for many, especially those winning the tournament. Past champions include: Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Chris Evert, Mary Jo Fernandez, Gabriella Sabatini and Elena Dementieva. As you might expect, the hitting is impressive. For more tournament facts, check Tennislink or go to Dunlop Orange Bowl. 

Rock for Kids at Rock-N-Racquets. Andy Roddick, Serena Williams, John Isner and Caroline Wozniacki will be there.

Rock-N- Racquets is back to benefit The Andy Roddick Foundation. Spon-sored by Babolat, the event will feature exhibition men's and women's singles and mixed doubles with headline talents Andy Roddick and Serena Williams and up-and-comers John Isner and Caroline Wozniacki. The seven year old event is Roddick's baby, designed to deliver his passion for tennis, music and his foundation to tennis fans of all ages. The synergy of athleticism and music throughout each evening creates a unique sports/entertainment experience that is uniquely Roddick's.

The Andy Roddick Foundation is dedicated to "Helping Children Today for Tomorrow." All benefiting organizations aid in the development of programming for at-risk children and families.

Rock-N-Racquets will be in Louisville, Kentucky December 12; Columbia, South Carolina, December 13; and Knoxville, Tennessee, December 14. Learn more at Rock-N-Racquets. Image: Sport Vision/Gianni Ciaccia

No Old Dogs Here. These Guys Still Play Big.

Looking for some great tennis in your own back yard? Check out the Outback Champions Series, played around the US (and the world) by tennis legends who've passed the ripe age of 30 (hey, that's not old). Eight champions play in each event. Money is on the line so these are not just exhibitions. The tennis is great and seating is intimate. Each player has either held a top 5 singles ranking, been a Grand Slam singles finalist or a singles player on a Championship Davis Cup team during their ATP Tour playing careers. John McEnroe and Pete Sampras (pictured above) played in Boston this past summer.

Upcoming 2008 events: The Citadel Group Championships at the Palisades,September 24-28, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina; Stanford Championships, October 22-26 in Dallas, Texas; Cancer Treatment Centers of America Championships at Surprise, November 5-9 in Surprise, Arizona; and the Legends of Rock Dubai, November 19-22 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

2009 events include the Rio Champions Cup March 12-15  2009 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and The Del Mar Development Champions Cup, March 18-22 in Los Cabos, Mexico.

Find tickets and player line-ups on the Champions Series Tennis website.