Delray Beach Hosts Clay Court National Championships

Tennis Balls, Beach Balls, Golf Balls…Gold Balls!  Is there a better place than Delray Beach, Florida—a two-time awarded “All-American City”—to gather America’s cream-of-the-crop junior tennis players to compete in the highest level national junior tennis tournament?  This elite group of the nation's top 192 players in each of the 18 & 16 and under divisions will battle for the USTA Boys' 18 & 16 Clay Court National Championships hosted by the City of Delray Beach, July 15 - 22, 2007.  Here, in our “Village by the Sea,” these talented tennis legions will vie for the coveted Gold Ball, a higher national ranking, recognition from college coaches, and in most auspicious of occasions, the winner of the Boys 18's will receive a wildcard into the main draw of the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships (ITC), February 9 – 17, 2008 ($436,000 ATP Tour Event), while the winner of the 16's will receive a wildcard into the ITC qualifying tournament (February 9 & 10, 2008).

Headed by Delray Beach ITC Tournament Director, Mark Baron, and Tournament Chairman, Ivan Baron, Player’s International Management, Inc. (PIM) has secured the 50-year-old tournament, becoming PIM's most prestigious amateur event to date—PIM additionally manages the USTA Boys' & Girls' 12s Spring National Championships hosted by the City of Delray Beach each April.  Prior to PIM’s acquisition of the event, Washington D.C. hosted the Boys’ 16's tournament since 1997, and in 2004, the Boys’ 18's Championship was added to their docket.

“The Committee felt it was very important to keep the two age groups together,” said Lew Brewer, Director, Junior Competition for USTA Player Development.” We received some excellent proposals from across the country, but the proposal from Delray Beach was deemed the best option for our players.  Ivan is a proven tournament director and I’m sure he will do a great job on this event.”    

Since the tournament began in 1967, virtually every top American player has competed in this event, including James Blake, Bryan Brothers, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang.  Past 16's doubles winners include the current world ranked team # 1 Bryan Brothers (1994), as well as our very own tournament Chairman, and noted one of “Florida’s Best Ever Juniors,” Ivan Baron (with his partner, Will Bull) in 1988. Their leadership paved the way for 2006 Boys’ 18's ‘Dubs Champs,’ Ryan Lipman and Rhyne Williams. The 2006 singles champion in the Boys’ 18 & under was Michael Venus (Orlando, FL), who upset top-seed Marcus Fugate (Fairport, NY), 6-4; 3-6; 6-4 in the final match.  2006 was a very good year for Brennan Boyajian (Weston, FL). As the top seed, he won both the 16's singles and doubles (with his doubles partner and Weston neighbor, Zach Hunter).

Who will bear the supremacy in 2008?  Find out, here!  Follow the trail of beach sand from the
yellow brick [Atlantic] Avenue to the green clay of Delray Beach’s fabled courts.  400 junior players will compete in the annual event which is estimated to bring over 1,200 visitors to the area and provide an economic impact of over $1 million annually.  "We are extremely excited to host this major USTA national event," said tournament Director, Mark Baron.  "Our goal is to make Delray Beach the place where the best junior players in the country come to compete."

The event will be televised both statewide and nationally, reaching an estimated 20 million homes, and will include the "Summer College Coaches Expo", held the first weekend offering an up-close and personal opportunity for players to meet numerous NCAA tennis coaches.

The Delray Beach Stadium and Tennis Center will serve as the main venue for both the Boys’ 18's and 16's divisions, with three other venues also hosting matches including Delray Swim and Tennis Club, Broken Sound Country Club and Boca West Country Club.  Admission to watch these future red, white, and blue stars is FREE.

For additional information, including volunteering and sponsorship opportunities, please visit our webpage at www.PimMarketing.com, or call the tournament office at (561) 330-6000.