The Sand Pit: Jump on the Beach Tennis Bandwagon

People often ask what is there to love about beach tennis. The response should always be the same … What’s not to love? You get to spend the day outside in the sun on the beach. You get to socialize with the other players opening up new friendships. You get great exercise on a forgiving surface that isn’t too tough on the body. It’s great competition, you get a nice tan and it’s just a great way to spend a day.

Now, as the winter has come and the weather has grown colder here in New York, the 2010 Beach Tennis Summer Season has come to a close, but beach tennis around the world continues to strive, and this year, the sport has made great strides to bring in more players and has made the move closer to becoming an Olympic sport in the near future.

Fun facts about beach tennis around the world …

►Beach tennis is a very big global sport and is played in numerous countries around the world, as its very prevalent in Italy, the Czech Republic (indoors), Holland, Aruba, Curacuo, St. Martin, Brazil, and many more.

►The top teams in the world on both the men’s and women’s sides are from Italy.

►The Beach Tennis Tour is an ITF-sponsored tour which, in 2010, hosted international tournaments year-round.

►Each tournament is played for both an ITF ranking, as well as prize money. Many tournaments are for at least $10,000 in prize money.

►You can see and play beach tennis on almost every beach in Italy.

►In Aruba, right in between The Marriott and The Holiday Inn, is Moomba Beach Bar featuring five beach tennis courts.

►Next summer, beach tennis will be part of the Pan American Games in Mexico and the United States will take part.

Fun facts about Beach Tennis in the United States and locally on Long Island …

►This summer, Long Island Tennis Magazine sponsored four tournaments that were played in Long Beach, N.Y.

►Two beach tennis courts were put in at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The courts were used during camps, as a back draw option at USTA tournaments, and for free open play.

►The U.S. National Championships were hosted in Long Beach, N.Y. over the 2010 Labor Day weekend. The top teams from all over the world competed for $10,000 in prize money.

►Beach tennis was played at two professional tournaments, at the Sony Ericsson in Miami and the Pilot Pen in Connecticut.

►Beach tennis was part of the AAU games in Virginia Beach. AAU is the largest youth multi-sporting event in the country.

►Sportime Kings Park’s Summer Camp brought in beach tennis to it’s summer program by putting two courts in on the grass and it was a hit with the campers.

►Thursday night and weekend beach tennis league play was held from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend.

Quotes from those involved with beach tennis …

“From the first day I played beach tennis, I was hooked. Not only was it a great workout and way to get back into pro competition, but it was just plain fun.”
—Nadia Johnston, a two-time Women’s Beach Tennis National Champion who resides on Long Island.

“It’s nice to be able to play a tournament match, then jump in the ocean and then come out and play another match. You are mixing great competition with a great day at the beach.”
—David Sickmen, national director of business development, Long Island Tennis Magazine, and fourth ranked American in the 2010 Men’s Pro Division BTUSA Point Series Standings

“The beauty of this sport is that anybody can play it. The sand is a very forgiving surface for weekend athletes and seniors. The learning curve is really short. Even beginners can pick up beach tennis in a few hours. This is why it’s so perfectly suited for recreational leagues. This summer, being part of the AAU is a crucial step toward our ultimate goal of making beach tennis an Olympic sport.”
—Jim Lorenzo, president of Beach Tennis USA and a resident of Long Beach, N.Y.

“The sport of beach tennis is a movement whose time has come. Enormous efforts were taken over the past five seasons to lay the foundation for beach tennis here in the United States. We’re very excited to be aligned with the ITF and anticipate the movement to grow exponentially.”
—Marc Altheim, founder and commissioner of Beach Tennis USA

2010 Men’s Pro Division U.S. BTUSA Point Series Standings
(Top 15 Only)

2010 Women’s Pro Division U.S. BTUSA Point Series Standings
(Top 15 Only)