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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Plan Promotes Participation

Associated Press

A five-year, $31 million commitment to increase tennis participation in communities across the nation was announced in New York by the United States Tennis Association.

The “Plan for Growth” calls for the creation of Play Tennis America adult leagues and an extensive USA Team Tennis program for youth. Its goal is to attract 800,000 new players to the sport and to increase the number of frequent players by 20 percent by the year 2002.

In addition to the overall nationwide effort, the plan includes an intensive campaign to market tennis to particular players - especially youngsters - in approximately 20 communities a year. The first year’s funding is pegged at $5 million.

The “Plan for Growth” was developed by the USTA in partnership with allied tennis organizations, including the ATP Tour; Corel WTA Tour; the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association; the National Recreation and Park Association; the Tennis Industry Association; the United States Professional Tennis Association; the United States Professional Tennis Registry, and World Teamtennis.

Connors tops ballot

Jimmy Connors, who was ranked in the world’s top 10 for 16 consecutive years, heads the list of nominees for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The 1998 ballot was announced Thursday at Newport, R.I., by Tony Trabert, chairman of the Hall of Fame Enshrinee Nominating Committee.

Also on the ballot, which is voted on by members of the international tennis media, are Francoise Durr of France, Ken McGregor of Australia and American Nancy Richey.

Connors was ranked No. 1 in the world for 160 consecutive weeks. In 1973, he won three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, and in one stretch, 1974-78, reached the U.S. Open singles final in five consecutive years.

Color-coordinated

The clacking sound when Venus Williams plays her matches comes from the multitude of beads that adorn her braids.

At Wimbledon, she wore green and purple beads - the colors of the All England Club.

For the U.S. Open, Williams has a new color scheme. The 1,800 beads in her hair are red, white and blue.

Women’s attendance grows

A record number of people are watching women’s tennis these days.

Through Wimbledon, 20 of the 29 events on the Corel WTA Tour have seen increased or record attendance. For the first five U.S. events this year, attendance rose 7 percent over 1996.

Overall, the women’s tour has averaged 78,112 fans per event, up more than 4,000 per week over 1996.

High mark for Thailand

Tamarine Tanasugarn has reached the third round of the U.S. Open, the third time she has gone that far in a Grand Slam tournament.

Although she lives in Bangkok, Thailand, Tanasugarn was born in Los Angles. She is currently ranked a career-high 41, the highest ranking achieved by any player from Thailand.