Beach Tennis USA Returns to Virginia Beach

Beach Tennis USA Returns to Virginia Beach
Two-Day Event At Site of North American Sand Soccer Championships

NEW YORK, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Beach Tennis USA(R), the organization responsible for launching the sport of beach tennis in North America, will hold its Virginia Beach Blast, Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7 on the beach at Atlantic Ave. between 19th and 20th Streets in Virginia Beach, VA. The event will take place at the site of the 16th Annual North American Sand Soccer Championships (NASSC). NASSC is the major charity event conducted for the development of the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex in Virginia Beach.

On Saturday, June 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., a Junior and Amateur tournament will be held followed by preliminary round play in the Pro division. On Sunday, June 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., there will be a special Co-ed Doubles tournament followed by the Men's and Women's Pro division advanced rounds and finals. Players from all over the country will compete for the $1,000 first-place prize, plus a guaranteed spot in the 2009 Beach Tennis USA National Championship in Long Beach, New York, September 5-6.

Beach tennis, which was launched in the U.S. as a pro and recreational sport in 2005 by real estate developer Marc Altheim, is a true hybrid sport that combines tennis and beach volleyball into one exciting and fast-paced game. Played on a regulation beach volleyball court, two players on each team use standard tennis racquets to hit a depressurized tennis ball back and forth over the net without letting it hit the sand.

Since its inaugural season in 2005, Beach Tennis USA (BTUSA) has experienced tremendous growth in player participation and crowd attendance, due largely to the company's creation of regional licensing agreements and local leagues. To date, Beach Tennis USA has signed domestic licensee agreements in Charleston, SC, Tampa, FL, Ft. Lauderdale, FL and the Metro New York region as well as similar international deals in Japan, South Africa, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

"Beach Tennis Believes," the official charity of BTUSA, will be accepting donations throughout the weekend on behalf of "Twinkling Eye Day Center," a prominent daycare center in the Hampton Roads area that caters to the needs of children with disabilities. Beach Tennis Believes helps raise funds and awareness for community centers and youth programs.

About Beach Tennis USA

Beach tennis, which was launched in the U.S. as a pro and recreational sport in 2005 by real estate developer Marc Altheim, combines tennis and beach volleyball into one exciting and fast-paced game. Now in its fifth season, Beach Tennis USA has garnered increased attention while hosting events throughout Florida, Southern California, South Carolina, and New York. Beach Tennis USA has also gained recognition in the tennis world, attracting many former top-rated tennis players. The company continues to grow by adding new licensees in various U.S. cities and establishing "Team Beach Tennis," which promotes year-round league play. To learn more about this fast-growing sport, or to learn how to join the movement, please visit www.beachtennisusa.net.

Source: Beach Tennis USA

CONTACT: John Rarrick of BullsEye Public Relations, +1-212-671-1080, Ext. 103, JR@bullseyepublicrelations.com, for Beach Tennis USA

Web Site: http://www.beachtennisusa.net/