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Shortsets

• Dunlop Sports Group Americas has been granted the worldwide licensing rights for the use of the legendary Peanuts characters, created by Charles M. Schulz, in the marketing and sales of its children sports products. Dunlop will use the characters and images from the Peanuts comic strip for children/junior racquet and golf sports products. The full range of products will become available throughout spring and summer, with new product lines in shops and stores by late summer.

• Stringers from the U.S., Brazil, England, Scotland, and Spain met at the T-Bar-M resort in New Braunfels, Texas, in early April for the first Grand Slam Stringers Racquet Stringers Symposium. The event included training sessions by Master Racquet Technicians and vendors with new products. Plans are under way for the 2008 symposium.

• CBS Sports will continue its long history as the network broadcaster of the US Open. A new agreement with the USTA builds on CBS’s 40-year history as broadcaster of America’s Grand Slam, one of the longest relationships in broadcast sports. The agreement provides more than 50 hours of US Open programming each year, as well as coverage of select US Open Series tournaments, and runs through 2011.

• The PTR has recently published and mailed its annual PTR Membership Handbook. The 385-page book provides PTR members with information about the organization and the tennis industry, in addition to a directory of PTR members worldwide, complete with individual listings by last name, certification rating and contact information, cross referenced by location.

• The USTA announced record ticket sales through April for the 2007 US Open in its advance ticket sales offer to USTA members. Members purchased nearly 27,000 tickets, an increase of more than 20 percent over 2006. And more than 176,000 subscription ticket packages had been sold through April, up 57 percent over last year’s record amount. All told, advance ticket sales were up 52 percent for 2007. American Express Cardmembers will have the opportunity to purchase 2007 US Open tickets beginning June 4. US Open tickets will go on sale to the general public on June 11.

• Steve Rothe, an MRI technician from Sioux City, Iowa, is the winner in Dunlop Sports Group’s 2007 Roland Garros French Open Sweepstakes. Rothe won an all expense paid trip for two to attend the 2007 French Open. Co-sponsored by Tennis Magazine, the grand prize consists of first class round-trip air transportation to Paris, 4-night hotel accommodations, ground transportation and tickets to the 2007 French Open, all valued at about $15,000. Rothe and his guest will also receive Dunlop Aerogel racquets.

• The second annual Bowen’s Wharf Fashion Show and Champagne Breakfast, hosted by the International Tennis Hall of Fame, will be July 12 during the 2007 Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I. Tickets are $65 each and include courtside tennis seats. Call 401-849-6053 or 866-914-FAME.

• USTA Atlanta has created “The Ginepri Fund,” which recognizes ATP Tour star and Atlanta resident Robby Ginepri for his support of the Atlanta Youth Tennis Foundation. Ginepri joined the advisory board of the AYTF in 2004. The fund will provide assistance for a variety of projects, including tennis and non-tennis community based initiatives in addition to support for inner city youth tennis players who show a financial need and dedication to academic excellence.

• The International Tennis Hall of Fame today announced that five of the eight players are set for the 2007 Gibson Guitar Champions Cup that will be held in Newport, R.I., Aug. 22-26. Pat Cash and Wayne Ferreira will join Hall of Famers John McEnroe, Jim Courier and Mats Wilander for the five-day event played on the Hall of Fame’s grass courts. Visit tennisfame.com.

• The 27th Annual International Tennis Hall of Fame gala in New York — now called “The Legends Ball” — will be Sept. 7 at Cipriani 42nd Street, located in the famed Bowery Building, beginning at 6:30 p.m., to honor the 2007 induction class and celebrate the sport. Co-chairs will be Jim Courier, Monica Seles, and Pam Shriver. The event will include a tribute to the 2007 Hall of Fame inductees — Pete Sampras, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Russ Adams, and Sven Davidson. For tickets, call 212-843-1740 or email legendsball@hgnyc.com.

• Bruce Karr receives Racquet Sports Industry’s 2006 Wheelchair Tennis Champion of the Year Award from former award recipient Dan James, the USTA’s national manager of Wheelchair Tennis. The presentation took place in April at the Florida Open player’s banquet in Boca Raton.

From the June 2007 issue
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