“Tennis Under the Stars” Previews Tennis with the Stars

[Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist]

If you happened to be downtown last Friday night and wondered what all the activity was outside Media on Main, you missed the preview event for the Sarasota Open. Traffic was blocked on Palm Avenue as tennis skills were shown off on a make-shift miniature tennis court, kids skated on an ice rink, and patrons admired Rolls Royces and sipped wine from the Florida Winefest. Two time Grand Slam Champion Petr Korda was on hand to demonstrate his skills along with Tournament Director Tony Driscoll. Over 500 people attended.

This event was simply a taste of what is yet to come. Next week, some of the world’s top tennis players will be coming to Sarasota to participate in the Sarasota Open just before heading off to the French Open in Paris. Over 30,000 spectators are expected to attend. The recently constructed 4.5 million dollar “Tennis Gardens” stadium at the Longboat Key Club and Resort is the luxurious setting for this year’s Men’s USTA/ATP Professional Tournament. So you will definitely have the opportunity to watch world-class tennis matches in style, and if you haven’t seen this new addition of what Sarasota has to offer, you really are in for a treat! In fact, there are treats available from May 8^th -15^th, with something to offer just about anyone:

Saturday, May 8^th – watch qualifying rounds

Sunday, May 9^th is “Kids Day”. Children are admitted free and entertained by teaching pros while you watch the qualifying rounds. Plus, since it is Mother’s Day, the first 100 mothers receive free gifts. (There’s also a contest for children to upload a video of their funniest serve on YouTube—see www.sarasotaopen.org).

Monday, May 10^th, the main draw begins. At night, satisfy your social itch as you mingle with tennis celebrities at the VIP Player’s Party hosted at the residence of Vern Buchanan.

Tuesday, May 11^th is Club Day. The area club (fitness, country club, tennis, etc.) with the most members to mention their club’s name at the gate wins their name on a trophy as “Sarasota Open Club of the Year.”

Wednesday, May 12^th is Professionals Day at the Open. If you’re fortunate enough to have a generous employer, you might just get the day off to watch tennis matches. Otherwise, come after work and network at Happy Hour for Professionals from 5:30-7:30pm.

Thursday, May 13^th is Rolls Royce Day. Yes, that’s right; one person will be the lucky winner of a Rolls Royce (and WQ mag thought we had good giveaways).

Friday, May 14^th, watch the semi-finals and area talent from the Hurricane Tennis Academy.

Saturday, May 15, the most exciting day of all -- it’s the finals!

If you’re interested in volunteering, there still may be opportunities available. Contact Marji Bitterman at [e-mail]. Sarasota Open is treating their volunteers well with perks like two free tickets to the Open.

The Sarasota Open isn’t just about world-class tennis; it’s also about charity. Children’s Charities including the Florida Wine Fest and the Boys and Girls Club will benefit. Get your tickets online at www.sarasotaopen.org or at the door.