INDIANAPOLIS (July 02, 2009) — The Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly announced today it has selected on-demand e-mail and one-to-one marketing provider ExactTarget to power the interactive communications for the eight-day US Open Series event.

Set for July 18-26, the tournament will harness the power of ExactTarget’s integrated Web-based messaging platform to allow fans to sign up for newsletters via text messaging and online, receive personalized voice-messaging updates from tour athletes including Andy Roddick, and participate in on-site interactive quizzes that will allow tournament-goers to compete for prizes via text messaging.

“The 2009 Indianapolis Tennis Championships presented by Lilly is expected to be one of the biggest in history, so we needed a new interactive way to communicate with the thousands fans who will flock to the Circle City for the eight-day tournament,” said Kevin Martin, tournament director for the Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly. “ExactTarget’s addition of voice messaging and interactive quizzes is a first for the series and will provide us new ways to connect with fans before, during and after the event.”

Tournament officials have already begun accepting newsletter signups via text messaging and will seek additional subscribers online and through a round of radio advertisements in early July. Starting in July, the tournament will also allow fans to opt-in to receive voice-messaging updates and offers from the tournament and athletes. The most anticipated technology addition to the tournament, Martin said, is the interactive text-messaging quizzes featured on the tournament’s Jumbotrons. The large screens will feature trivia questions that will allow fans to reply with an answer via text messaging for a chance to win prizes and discounts.

“Sporting and business events are increasingly looking for new ways to inform, educate and entertain fans throughout the life cycle of an event,” said Tim Kopp, ExactTarget’s chief marketing officer. “ExactTarget’s sophisticated platform allows event organizers to power their e-newsletters, event voice reminders and integrated text messaging all from a single, easy-to-use online platform that provides unmatched analytics and tracking tools.”

The selection of ExactTarget to power the interactive communications for the Indianapolis Tennis Championships comes less than three months after the integrated one-to-one marketing provider powered the interactive communications for another national event. In April, ExactTarget powered the communications for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition builder The Estridge Companies in Indianapolis. Estridge used ExactTarget’s software to register people to receive news alerts about the build and to send e-mail and voice messages to volunteers reminding them of their upcoming shifts. The builder also used ExactTarget’s text-messaging capabilities to allow people visiting the build site to text in questions about Estridge or any of the products used on the build.

About Indianapolis Tennis Championships
The Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly is a world-class ATP Tour event held annually in Indianapolis and is a part of the Olympus US Open Series. The event traces its roots back to 1920 and has hosted such notable players as Pete Sampras, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi. For more information, visit www.tennisindy.com.

About ExactTarget
ExactTarget, Inc., is a leading provider of on-demand e-mail marketing software solutions. The company’s suite of on-demand, one-to-one marketing applications enable clients to send business-critical and event-triggered communications to increase sales, optimize marketing investments and strengthen customer relationships. ExactTarget offers four editions of its on-demand software application along with integrated solutions such as ExactTarget for Salesforce.com AppExchange, ExactTarget for Microsoft Dynamics CRM and ExactTarget for Omniture Genesis. ExactTarget offers a range of optimization services including support, implementation and training, integration, deliverability, account management, design and deployment and strategic consulting. ExactTarget’s software powers permission-based e-mail communications for thousands of organizations including CareerBuilder.com, Expedia.com, Florida Power & Light, Gannett Co., Inc/USA TODAY, the Indianapolis Colts, The Home Depot, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Liberty Mutual Group, Papa John’s and Wellpoint, Inc. For more information, visit www.exacttarget.com or call 1-866-EMAILET.

In unquestionably the most grueling match of the quarterfinals and his stint at All England, American No. 1 Andy Roddick lived up to his seed as he slipped past former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon today, 6-3, 6-7 (10), 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-4.

With the win Roddick advances to face No. 3 Andy Murray in the semifinals, with No. 2 Roger Federer and Germany's Tommy Haas battling for the other spot in the final.
Roddick started quickly against Hewitt, and he began the second strong as well. However, Hewitt proved he would compete late in the second and by the time the Australian former Wimbledon champion eeked out a 12-10 tiebreaker for the set, it was clear Roddick had a match on his hands.

The third set was almost as tightly contested as the second had been, only this time it was the world No. 6 -- who'll be in Indianapolis this summer going for his third Indy title -- coming out of the tiebreak with the set in hand.

Though Roddick seemed in command early in the fourth, picking up a break, Hewitt broke back and took over to win it, 6-4. The final set was, as would be expected in this match, terribly close, with Roddick earning the break at 5-4 and serving for the match.

While he let a 30-love start turn into 30-all, Roddick would pull it out in the end.

"I'd just like them to have a long match so they're a little bit tired for the semis," Murray had said before Roddick got underway. He couldn't have asked for a longer result, but as he left, Roddick said he felt great and had no time to be tired.

It's worth pointing out, though, that when Roddick won the US Open in 2003, he had to gut out a five-setter over David Nalbandian in the semis to get to the final, where he cruised against Juan Carlos Ferrero.




(Getty Images) Roddick reacts to win over Hewitt

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INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly announced today its selection of The Villages of Indiana, Indiana’s largest not-for-profit child and family services agency, serving more than 1,400 children and families every day, as one of its charity partners for the upcoming tournament held July 18-26.

The primary component in the partnership is a silent auction of children’s artwork. Five pieces of tennis-themed artwork created by children of The Villages and autographed by professional tennis players will be auctioned through the week of the tournament, with proceeds supporting the state’s largest nonprofit and family services agency. Artwork will carry the theme of “It Must Be Love” and tennis, and it will be presented to the winning bidders during Friday’s Pack the House night.

“Our partnership with The Villages is a tangible link between two very committed charitable organizations,” Tournament Director Kevin Martin said, “and we are as proud to lend our support to their mission of championing every child’s right to a safe, loving home as we are grateful for their efforts in support of our own charitable goals.”

Just as the tournament’s Healthy Active Lifestyles (HAL) Outreach Program improves the health of Hoosier youth, so does The Villages, serving as a beacon of safety and support to children statewide.

“We are very excited to partner with the Indianapolis Tennis Championships,” said Sharon Pierce, president and CEO of The Villages. “It is a fantastic way to bring attention and commitment to the well-being of children throughout the state.”

The Villages’ vision is for every child to flourish in a healthy, nurturing, self-sufficient family. Through foster care, adoption, family and prevention services, the Villages champions every child’s right to a safe, permanent and nurturing home, and is committed to strengthening all families and embracing the dignity and diversity of every child, youth and family it serves. For more information, contact your local Villages office at 800.874.6880 or visit www.villageskids.org.

The Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly is a world-class ATP Tour event held annually in Indianapolis and is a part of the Olympus US Open Series. The event traces its roots back to 1921 and has hosted such notable players as Pete Sampras, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, and Andre Agassi. For more information, please visit www.tennisindy.com.

Well it’s the final day in June and we are preparing for our busiest and most exciting month of the year.  With only two and a half weeks remaining before the tournament, we can almost hear the shouting, grunts, screeching of shoes and popping of the ball off the racket, as the tournament is closer than ever.
 

In very bright perspective is the performance of Indy committals at Wimbledon this week.  Three of the eight quarter-finalists will be competing in the Indianapolis Tennis Championships this year.  Andy Roddick, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and Ivo Karlovic will all be competing on Wednesday, looking to add more points to their quest atop the ATP rankings.  Highlighting Wednesday’s action at Wimbledon will be another Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt match.  They last played eachother at Queen’s about a month ago, with Roddick coming out victorious.  The current series stand at 5-6 in Hewitt’s favor. 
 

Ivo Karlovic advanced to his first Wimbledon quarterfinals over 7th seeded Verdasco on Monday by firing 35 aces past the Spainiard.  He now faces the daunting task of dethroning the world-renowned Roger Federer in his pursuit to reach the semi-finals.  We wish him luck. 
 

Juan Carlos Ferrero received a wild card entry to Wimbledon and has more than exceeded expectations.  The former number 1, will face off against hometown favorite Andy Murray in the quarterfinals.  Ferrero defeated last year’s Indy champ Gilles Simon in the 4th round of the tournament and is the first wild card to reach the quarter finals at Wimbledon since 2001. 
 

If all goes well, Indy could play host to three of the 4 semi-finalists in Wimbledon, and even a potential finals match.  We wish all of these competitors the best of luck!
 

In other box office news, tickets are beginning to be sent out and seats for Tuesday (Andy Roddick’s first match), and the finals weekend are becoming scarce.  We are planning to make the move down to the tennis site sometime during the next week, and the box office on site will be open a few days before the tournament.  There are limited-time promotions running at this time and can be redeemed by calling the box office at 1-800-622-LOVE.  In fact, just for reading our blog, we are offering a 3 day promotion of 30% off any individual tickets, or season ticket packages.  This offer will expire on Friday, July, 3rd at 5pm.  Call in to receive your discount!
 

Thanks for reading and look for more to come in the following week.

 

Take a look at the men's singles bracket at Wimbledon today and you'll see eight of the best tennis players in the world.

Three of those names will also be on the main draw sheet at the Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly this summer.

And for a Grand Slam, three out of eight is more than not half bad - it's great. It's like a .375 batting average in baseball - not quite on the level of Ted Williams' .400+ season, but still MVP-worthy.

From a pure seedings basis, World No. 6 and American No. 1 Andy Roddick was expected to be here. The former world No. 1 and US Open champion -- a two-time winner at Indainapolis -- Roddick has been having a fantastic season and  needs only a Slam title to solidify it as his best in years, if not ever.

His service game is very strong, as usual, and Roddick is developing some very nice complements to that power as well. He should be a force and in the mix for this title, one that only Roger Federer seems to stand in the way of.Roddick will face former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt in the QFs.

Outside Roddick, though, the other two Indy commits had to pull a couple of surprises.

Former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero was a wild card at Wimbledon, and he would have had nothing to be embarrassed about if his Wimbly run had ended two rounds ago against No. 10 seed Fernando Gonzalez or a round later against former Indy winner No. 8 Gilles Simon.

Ferrero beat them both, though, and now he stands in the quarters facing the host-country's favorite, No. 3 Andy Murray. On the other side of the bracket from Ferrero and Roddick stands the tallest man in tennis -- Indy commit Ivo Karlovic.

With his crushing service game, Karlovic is widely believed to be the only man left who can challenge Federer. Roddick and Ferrero would argue that point, as would the remaining quarterfinalists, but the 6-foot-10 Karlovic will get the next shot.

The No. 22 seed, Karlovic knocked off No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and No. 7 Fernando Verdasco to get here.

Now all three will take aim at the semis.

INDIANAPOLIS – Fan favorite and former champion Robby Ginepri is looking to the hardcourts of the Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly to jumpstart his 2009 season. It was announced today that Ginepri is one of the three wild card selections of this year’s tournament that kicks of the Olympus US Open Series.

“Robby is definitely one of the best players in the world, and we’re very glad to have him back in Indy,” Tournament Director Kevin Martin said. “He is not only a tremendous talent, but Robby has a fun, accessible personality that really resonates with our fans and enhances the intimate customer experience we strive to provide.”

Ginepri won the 2005 Indianapolis title and also counts a Newport title to his resume, which has included a peak ranking of No. 15 in 2005. A bout with appendicitis sidelined the 26-year-old American for eight weeks earlier this season, and he has since struggled to find his form. In his return, Ginepri lost five straight matches before knocking off Andrey Golubev 6-3, 6-4 at Eastbourne in early June. He currently has three wins on the year and suffered a first-round loss at Wimbledon to Lleyton Hewitt 6-4, 6-1, 6-1. He is currently ranked No. 107 on the ATP World Tour Rankings.

Ginepri is no stranger to inconsistent results, especially in the first half of the year. He typically regains his form during the summer hardcourt season. For example, in 2006 he started 6-16 through Wimbledon and then rallied for an 18-10 record the rest of year, including reaching the semifinals at Indianapolis. The Georgia native has a 13-7 lifetime record in Indianapolis and will be making his ninth straight appearance. He will also be looking to advance to the second round for the first time since 2006.

In 2008, Ginepri finished at No. 51 for second time in three years. He started off 10-4 in the first three months, making three consecutive semifinal appearances in Delray Beach (l. James Blake), San Jose (d. No. 9 Blake, l. Radek Stepanek) and Las Vegas (d. No. 17 Marcos Baghdatis, l. Anderson). He did not win back-to-back matches again until May when he reached the quarterfinal round in Poertschach.At the French Open, Ginepri was the last American standing and turned in a career-best fourth-round showing (d. Igor Andreev, l. Fernando Gonzalez). His best results the rest of season were third-round finishes in New Haven and AMS Madrid (d. No. 6 Nikolay Davydenko, l. Gilles Simon).

Ginepri will join previously announced commitments highlighted by Andy Roddick, Sam Querrey, Taylor Dent, Dmitry Tursunov, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Ivo Karlovic at this year’s Indianapolis Tennis Championships held July 18-26 at the Indianapolis Tennis Center on the campus of IUPUI. Tickets for the Championships can be purchased online at tennisindy.com or by calling 800-622-LOVE.

The Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly is a world-class ATP Tour event held annually in Indianapolis and is a part of the Olympus US Open Series. The event traces its roots back to 1921 and has hosted such notable players as Pete Sampras, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi. For more information, please visit www.tennisindy.com.

 

INDIANAPOLIS – As a unique, affordable Midwestern event, the Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly is an ideal “staycation” destination for families and tennis fans across the United States. The tournament delivers world-class tennis with first-class fun, from its player field headed by ATP World Rankings American No. 1 and World No. 6 Andy Roddick, to its week-long slate of special events.
 
“We are a world-class tennis tournament,” said tournament director Kevin Martin, “and we know a big part of succeeding in this echelon of entertainment is to provide a memorable experience for every person who passes through our gates. We don’t just want you to see some of the best tennis players on the planet – although you certainly will – we want you to enjoy every moment here and feel like you’ve gotten a good value for your dollar.”

TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel community, recently announced in its annual travel trends survey that almost 20 percent of the 3,000 U.S. travelers polled planned to take a “staycation” in 2009.

One of the distinguishing qualities of the event is its unmatched, intimate guest experience. At the Indianapolis Tennis Championships, fans not only have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to hit the court with a pro, but they can also watch practices from a few feet away and enjoy autograph and photo opportunities all week with the cost of admission.

The tournament will feature a variety of children’s activities on Sunday and Monday, including tennis demonstrations, teaching clinics, rock climbing, face painting, mascots, dancing with Radio Disney, and tips and other resources on staying active to live a healthy lifestyle. On Rockin’ with Roddick Tuesday, the fan favorite and newly married tennis star will play his first match with part of the proceeds going to the Andy Roddick Foundation for disadvantaged youth.

Wednesday will feature a Nintendo Wii experience, while Thursday is College Night, where fans with a valid college ID receive a regular ticket and Championships T-shirt for $15. There will also be live entertainment on the Plaza Thursday night and Sam Querrey’s Samurai on site to interact with fans. Friday features half-price tickets for professionals who bring their business card to the Box Office for the afternoon session and Pack the House special group ticket rates for the evening session. Two lucky fans will also win a chance to return a serve from a pro on Stadium Court and interview rights to the winning player in the singles match.

The Indianapolis Tennis Championships draws fans from more than 35 states and around the world. In the Midwest, ticket data indicates concentrations of fans in Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta and Nashville, Tenn. – all cities within day-trip driving distance of Indianapolis. Ticket prices for the tournament start at just $8, and special group, season and weekend packages are available through the Box Office by calling 800-622-LOVE.

The Indianapolis Tennis Championships is a world-class ATP Tour event held annually in Indianapolis and is a part of the Olympus US Open Series. The event traces its roots back to 1921 and has hosted notable players like Pete Sampras, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi.

INDIANAPOLIS – International tennis stars Ivo Karlovic and Ernests Gulbis and Americans John Isner, Bobby Reynolds and Vincent Spadea are among the latest players who have committed to this year’s Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly, continuing the tournament’s tradition of hosting a great mix of international and American players.

Standing 6 feet 10 inches tall, big-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic is the tallest player to ever compete on the ATP World Tour. Karlovic set a record for aces in a tour-level match, serving 55 in his 6-7 (1), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3 loss to Lleyton Hewitt in the first round of the 2009 French Open. The ATP began keeping records on aces in 1991. Karlovic shared the previous record of 51 aces with Joachim Johansson. The old mark for aces in a French Open match was 37, set by Andy Roddick in 2001. Karlovic, who reached a career high of No. 14 last summer, is currently ranked No. 36. He reached the quarterfinals at London/Queen’s Club (l. Roddick) and Chennai and was a semifinalist at Belgrade. This will be his fourth appearance in Indianapolis.

Last year was a breakout season for young Latvian Ernests Gulbis, 20, who advanced to his first quarterfinal in a Grand Slam and AMS tournament. He won a personal-best 24 matches —14 more than his previous season — and reached a career-high No. 38 on Aug. 4 before finishing just outside the Top 50. At the French Open, he beat No. 8 James Blake in the second round en route to the quarterfinals (l. Novak Djokovic). In August, Gulbis advanced to the quarterfinal at AMS Cincinnati, defeating No. 8 Blake again (l. Djokovic). He is currently ranked No. 74 and will be playing Indianapolis for the first time in his career.
                                                                      (Getty Images) Ivo Karlovic
                                                                    
John Isner, who turned pro in 2007, is no slouch at 6 feet 9 inches. Earlier this year at AMS Miami, he won his first career match over a Top 10 player when he knocked off No. 9 Gael Monfils in the second round before falling to No. 6 Juan Martin del Potro in the fourth round. He played four years and earned All-American honors each season at the University of Georgia from 2004-2007 and was the school’s all-time leader in singles and doubles wins. The 23-year-old made his Indianapolis debut in 2008 and reached the second round (l. Tommy Haas). In 2009, he has reached the quarterfinals twice at Houston and Auckland, is currently ranked No. 99 and will be making his second appearance in Indianapolis.

Bobby Reynolds, the 26-year-old veteran of the Challenger circuit, played at Vanderbilt University for three seasons from 2000-2003 under coach and former ATP doubles star Ken Flach before turning pro after his junior year. Reynolds finished No. 1 in national singles rankings in 2003 and led Vanderbilt to the NCAA final in 2003, capping one of biggest turnarounds in recent NCAA history before losing to the University of Illinois 4-3 in the finals. He defeated current pro Amer Delic at No. 1 singles and was named the tournament’s MVP, making him the only player to win this award who
  (Getty Images) John Isner                           was not on a championship team. In 2008, the     
                                                                 American reached a pair of ATP quarterfinals in Delray Beach and Indianapolis (l. Sam Querrey) and won two Challenger titles to finish in the Top 100 for the first time since 2005. Reynolds, currently No. 94, is making his fourth appearance in Indianapolis.

The 34-year-old American veteran Vincent Spadea is making his 10th Indianapolis stop with an 8-9 record at the Indianapolis Tennis Center. He was the 1999 Runner-Up (l. Nicolas Lapentti). Spadea reached a career high of No. 18 in 2005 and has finished in the Top 100 for 13 of the past 15 years. Last year was highlighted by one ATP semifinal in Newport and three quarterfinals in Adelaide, Delray Beach and Nottingham. He played 28 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments prior to the 2009 French Open, but his ranking had dropped below the cutoff for main draw, and he did not attempt to qualify. Spadea is currently ranked No. 113.
Karlovic, Gulbis, Isner, Reynolds and Spadea will join previously announced commitments Andy Roddick, Sam Querrey, Taylor Dent, Dmitry Tursunov, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Marcos Baghdatis, and Arnaud Clement at this year’s Indianapolis Tennis Championships held July 18-26 at the Indianapolis Tennis Center on the campus of IUPUI. Tickets for the Championships can be purchased online at tennisindy.com or by calling 800-622-LOVE.

The Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly is a world-class ATP Tour event held annually in Indianapolis and is a part of the Olympus US Open Series. The event traces its roots back to 1921 and has hosted such notable players as Pete Sampras, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, and Andre Agassi. For more information, please visit www.tennisindy.com.

Just as they did at the 2007 Indianapolis Tennis Championships, World No. 27 Dmitry Tursunov and Canadian Frank Dancevic met in an ATP final over the weekend.

Just like in 2007, they took different paths -- Tursunov, the No. 2 seed in cruise mode, with Dancevic, a qualifier, pulling some unlikely wins out -- and just as it was in Indianapolis two years ago, Tursunov walked away with the hardware.

Then, fresh off his first ATP World Tour title of the season, Tursunov -- who has designated to play at the 2009 Indianapolis Tennis Championships -- came through with this gem: "Whether it's winning Wimbledon, Eastbourne, a Challenger of Futures event, or beating your grandmother in checkers, winning is always better than losing," Tursunov said.

It was Tursunov's first grass court title, while Dancevic, one of three qualifiers to reach an ATP World Tour final this season, was making just his second ATP title match appearance.


(Getty Images) Tursunov at
Indy in 2007

After some trouble with his lower left leg earlier in the year, Tursunov is coming on strong now. He fired 12 aces in the win and did not face a break point.

I'm not going to slight this piece by Richard Pagliaro of Tennis Week by trying to summarize it. It's worth reading, mark that, and tells a great story any tennis fan should already know.

Today Taylor Dent - the former No. 21 who was ranked No. 865 at the beginning of this season, the 2009 Indy commit, the power-server who was in his rightful place among the best players in the world three-and-a-half years ago - in a way, returned.

Yes, the 28-year-old is ranked No. 269 in the ATP Tour World Rankings, and he isn't all that far removed from lost qualifiers and Challenger matches he undoubtedly wishes he could have back.

But where there is little distance in time, there is a great difference in stature.

At arguably the most historic tennis venue in the world, today Dent earned a place in a Grand Slam, a place among the world's best at Wimbledon.

He is back where he belongs, and I could not be happier for him.

To Taylor and his wife Jenny, the Indianapolis Tennis Championships offers heartfelt congratulations.

Now go kick some grass at the All England Club!!!

Well it’s time for another installment of the Box Office Backswing.  Things have really picked up around here since the last posting.  Starting off, we have moved to a new location on the north-side of the city.  The new office sits right in between the Blue Crew sports bar and Panda Express right off of 96th street.  The moving process has been hectic, but went well, and we have now settled into our new location after a week of moving procedures.
 

Earlier this week we released the names of several players that have committed to play in the tournament.  Highlighting the list were Dmitry Tursunov, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Marcos Baghdatis and Arnuad Clement, just to name a few.  Exciting news surrounds these players this week as they prepare themselves for the hard court challenge in Indy. 
 

Dmitry Tursunov, the Indianapolis Championship winner in 2007, will advance to the Quarter Finals this week at the AEGON International with hopes of fine tuning his game, and strengthening his body before next months Indy tournament.  Come-backer Juan Carlos Ferrero, a previous ATP World No. 1, has continued his climb in the rankings this week by gaining 21 positions in the ATP rankings and settling in at No. 69.  Ferrero will be a first time competitor this year in Indianapolis.  Joining them will be Marcos Baghdatis, of Cyprus, who recently upset 15th ranked Tommy Robredo at the Ordina Open, and 31-year-old Arnaud Clement, who will make his first appearance in Indianapolis since 2002 and sixth overall.
 

Recently here at the Box Office phones have been ringing off the hook.  Tickets are selling fast, especially for the championship weekend and Tuesday’s session, which will feature Andy Roddick’s first match.  To promote these days/sessions we have incorporated a Vontoo sales promotion which calls numerous past ticket buyers to offer a special rate for Tuesday and Friday’s sessions.  We have also been out on the road promoting the tournament via our sales/street team that has appeared at locations such as Lifetime Fitness and the Indiana Blood Center.  Be sure to check out our website for future updates and locations. 
 

Speaking of the sales team, I would like to give a shout out to my fellow Box Office sales associates: Ben, Candyce, Kelly, and Brad.  Make sure to look for us when you attend the tournament and don’t be afraid to say hi. 
 

Well that is all for my second installment of the box office backswing.  Ryan OUT.
 

International stars designate to play in 2009 Indianapolis Tennis Championships

INDIANAPOLIS – International tennis stars ranked among the top in the world have committed to this year’s Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly, giving the tournament a great mix of international and American players. Dmitry Tursunov, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Marcos Baghdatis and Arnuad Clement will make their appearance among a player field of 32 and could be among the stars tennis fans get to hob-knob with in the Player’s Lounge in their new Power Hour with the Pros promotion.



“We have always believed that with the balance of American and international players, we will deliver some of the best sporting entertainment in town,” said Indianapolis Tennis Championships Director Kevin Martin. “Tennis is a global sport with growing popularity, and each and every year we have been able to attract tennis talent from all across the globe to spend a week in Indianapolis. They like our city and we like having them here to give our fans exposure to world-class tennis competition.”

This is the first year the tournament has offered exclusive extended access to the Player’s Lounge for fans. The promotion is tied to a one-day-only offer if fans purchase their tickets anytime through midnight on Wednesday, June 17. Six winners will be selected from the buyer pool and will enjoy one hour in the Player’s Lounge for dinner, games, autographs and photos with the pros. Winners will be announced on the tournament Web site on June 18 to mark the one-month countdown to the tournament’s week of competition that includes stars like Andy Roddick, Taylor Dent and Sam Querrey.
Dmitry Tursunov at Indy in '07 (Getty Images)

2007 Champion and current ATP World Tour No. 27 Dmitry Tursunov will return to Indianapolis for a fifth consecutive year. In 2008, the 26-year-old Russian was the first defending champion to reach the finals at Indianapolis then fail to defend his title since Jimmy Connors lost to Manuel Orantes in 1977. He lost to Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-4. Tursunov has had mixed results in 2009, in large part due to an ankle injury that sidelined him for two months prior to the French Open. Last year he won two ATP titles (Sydney & Metz) for a second year in a row and finished in the Top 30.

Former ATP World Tour No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero is making his debut in Indianapolis this year. The 29-year-old Spaniard reached the No. 1 ranking in 2003 after he advanced to the finals at the US Open (l. to Roddick). That year he also won a Grand Slam title at the French Open and was a quarterfinalist at the Australian Open. He also reached the fourth round at Wimbledon. In April, he broke a 110-tournament title drought by winning Casablanca with a straight-set victory over countryman Florent Serra. It was Ferrero’s first title since October 2003 in Madrid and first on clay since capturing Roland Garros in 2003. He is currently ranked No. 69 and has 12 career singles titles. He won his 400th career ATP World Tour Match (403-214) at London/Queen’s Club  in a 1st RD win over Sebastien Grosjean en route to first career grass court semifinal (l. Murray).

Marcos Baghdatis, a 24-year-old Cypriot, will be making his second appearance in Indianapolis and first since 2005 when he lost to Kenneth Carlson 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, in the second round. In 2008, he was limited to 12 tournaments and fell to No. 100 due to injuries during the season. His best          Juan Carlos Ferrero at Queen's (Getty Images)
results were semifinals in Marseille (l. to Ancic) and quarterfinals in Halle (l. to Federer). He also reached the third round at the Australian Open where he lost a four-hour and 45-minute, five-set marathon that finished at 4:34 a.m. to Hewitt. He advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon (l. to Lopez 8-6 in fifth set) and then was sidelined for two months with a stress fracture in his right wrist. He began 2009 by reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open (l. Djokovic) and quarterfinals at Johannesburg and Delray Beach.

French veteran and 31-year-old Arnaud Clement is making his first appearance in Indianapolis since 2002 and sixth overall. He has a lifetime record of 7-5 and his best result was the quarterfinals in 2002 (l. Mantilla). In 2008, he finished in the Top 100 for the ninth time in the past 10 years, highlighted by a Wimbledon-best quarterfinals run at the All England Club, losing 8-6 in the fifth set to Schuettler in 5:12, the longest match of the season.

Tursunov, Ferrero, Baghdatis and Clement will join previously announced commitments by Andy Roddick, Sam Querrey, and Taylor Dent at this year’s Indianapolis Tennis Championships held July 18-26 at the Indianapolis Tennis Center on the campus of IUPUI. Tickets for the Championships can be purchased online at tennisindy.com or by calling 800-622-LOVE.

The Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly is a world-class ATP Tour event held annually in Indianapolis and is a part of the Olympus US Open Series. The event traces its roots back to 1920 and has hosted such notable players as Pete Sampras, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, and Andre Agassi. For more information, please visit www.tennisindy.com.

Here's the final installment of the 2009 Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly Special Events calendar.

Add all this to the outstanding tennis always on display here and the Indianapolis Tennis Championships - July 18-26 at the Indianapolis Tennis Center on the campus of IUPUI - is an event for the whole family you won't want to miss.

Without further ado, here's the final piece:

Friday brings the first double-header of the 2009 Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly, and with two sessions of tennis comes two sessions of fun outside the friendly confines of the court.

To start things off, we'll host Tennis on Tap on Friday afternoon. This is part of the early session, which begins at noon. The later session, FYI, begins at 7 p.m. But during the initial session of the day, fans are invited to come down and enjoy Tennis on tap, where you can bring a business card to receive half off your ticket purchase. Enjoy drink specials throughout the day, sample new local brewery beers, and have your Heineken served up by a tennis pro.

It's a great way to enjoy what will undoubtedly be a beautiful Friday afternoon in Indianapolis.

Friday evening is Pack the House Night, an event to benefit The Villages charity and the tournament's own Anthem Healthy Active Lifestyles (HAL) Outreach Program. On this, Pack the House Night, fans will get a shot to try to return a serve from a pro for only $1, and you can also enter to win a VIP Tour of the Player Lounge. One fan will be selected to interview a player to be broadcast on the Stadium Court video-board, and some amazing art autographed by pro tennis players and created by The Villages youngsters will be up for auction.

There will also be a massive group discount on Friday, through which groups of 10 to 100 people get tickets for $20 each, a 20-percent savings per pass, while groups with 101 to 150 people get tickets for $15 each (40 percent savings). Bring your whole tennis club and all your friends from the office in a group of 151 or more, and tickets are just $10 each! That's over half off the regular price.

Of course, on top of that, Friday is a night of quarterfinals action, so some of the best tennis of the week will be on display.

On Saturday, with the semifinals on the court, enjoy great food and drink off as we celebrate Wine and Dine Saturday. Celebrity chefs and doubles finalists will cook up some favorite recipes of the players, and we'll have a broad offering of Barefoot wines for you to enjoy. A Player Recipe Book made up of, obviously, recipes from the players will also be on sale for fans to purchase, with the proceeds going to Gleaner's Food Bank of Indianapolis.

Then there's Sunday, the pièce de résistance, the Championship matches and Fan Appreciation Day. The last players standing will battle on Stadium Court, and we'll giving the fans something to celebrate, too. Fantastic prizes will be awarded throughout the finals matches, with more than 40 prizes up for grabs.

So that's the plan. Great tennis on the court, great fun off it, and great causes to support. It all goes along with our mission of, "Tennis. Community. Charity." and our goal to give fans the most intimate customer experience in sports.

Thanks for reading!

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Tickets for the 2009 Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly can be purchased by calling 800-622-LOVE or online at www.tennisindy.com. We also allot seats for sale through Ticketmaster and Ticketmaster.com, though you'll find more options and packages through our box office.

Any which way you buy your tickets, we hope you're able to come out and enjoy what is always a great tournament. This year Andy Roddick, the top-ranked American, will go for a record-tying third Indy title, while rising star Sam Querrey and a full field of youngsters and veterans from around the world try to put up a roadblock.

An ATP World Tour event and part of the US Open Series, the Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly is the first step on the path to the US Open.

American tennis fans had plenty to be excited about heading into the weekend at Queen's Club as American stars Andy Roddick and James Blake made up half the semifinal field.

By Monday, though, Great Britain's Andy Murray was holding the trophy, and while Blake looked strong in his chase to the runner-up spot, Roddick had been forced to retire with an ankle injury.

With the optimism of a new batch of Monday ATP World Tour Rankings comes also a note on Roddick, who's committed to play in the 2009 Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly July 18-26 at the Tennis Center on the campus of IUPUI.

According to reports out of the UK, Roddick expects to be fit for Wimbledon, which begins June 22 and runs through July 5.

There is also a note on Roddick's Web site indicating he'll be OK in due time.

In the mean, the top-ranked American man comes in at No. 6 this week, a position he's held for several weeks consecutively now.

Roddick played very well at the AEGON Championships at Queen's Club last week and is solidly a top-10 player. Certainly an injury at any point is a worry, but Roddick's got some time to get ready for Wimbledon, where he always plays well. I expect he'll be in the semis if not the finals by Independence Day.
                                                                             Roddick at Queens (Getty Images)
Moving on to the next player in the rankings with a commitment to play in Indy this summer, rising American star Sam Querrey is hanging in at No. 46 this week.

Querrey was also in London last week and played well before he fell to Blake, though it went three sets. The 6-foot-6 power-server is having a fantastic season and may be able to make a little noise at the next big event, Wimbledon.

Another American with plans to play Indy, Taylor Dent climbed to No. 269 this week. Meanwhile Japanese star Kei Nishikori, who's committed to play in Indy this summer though currently working through an injury, comes in at No. 116 once again.

That's it for now, but stay tuned. We expect to have some new player announcements coming very soon!!!!!


Buy your tickets to the 2009 Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly, July 18-26 at the Indianapolis Tennis Center on the campus of IUPUI by visiting our Web site tennisindy.com or call 800-622-LOVE



Querrey at Queens (Getty Images)

In case you haven't heard, Japanese tennis sensation Kei Nishikori, who earlier in the spring committed to play in the Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly held July 18-26, has been dealing with an arm injury since Indian Wells. Nishikori was forced to pull out of last week’s French Open and AEGON Championships.

Word is still out on whether Nishikori will be recovered from his injury in time to play the Indianapolis Tennis Championships. That disappoints the 19-year-old wunderkid who sealed his first ATP championship last year after winning in Delray Beach, making him the youngest champion since Lleyton Hewitt who earned the honor 10 years ago. We’re told we’ll know more about Nishikori’s playing likelihood after July 1. Stay tuned. His is a match you wouldn’t want to miss!

Alright, so now you've had a little time to soak in the excitement of the first two days of the Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly, July 18-26 at the Tennis Center on the campus of IUPUI.

Here's the next round.

Tuesday, July 21 will be one of the marquee days of the early tournament slate. For the first time anyone can remember - probably ever - tournament organizers have announced a player's first match months in advance of the tournament. That's Tuesday for you.

Tuesday is Rockin' with Roddick Day. In case you haven't figured it out yet, ATP Tour World Rankings No. 6 Andy Roddick will play his first match of the Indianapolis Tennis Championships on Tuesday. Part of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Andy Roddick Foundation, and T-shirts designed by Andy will be sold on-site with proceeds also benefitting the Andy Roddick Foundation.

Next up is Wii Wednesday, an event that will give fans the opportunity to play Wii Fit -- sidenote, if you haven't yet played Wii Fit, it's totally worth the price of a Wednesday ticket. The game is awesome, and with the great tennis on the court Wednesday, it's another fantastic reason to come out. A Wii Fit will be given away, and a variety of EA Sports games will be awarded to lucky fans throughout the day, too.

The final event in this installment: USTA Member Appreciation Day and Samurai Day, also known as Thursday, July 23.

USTA members are invited to come out from 3-6 p.m. for complimentary food and drinks, member gifts, autograph sessions and door prizes. The tournament trophy will also be displayed and provides a perfect photo opportunity for tennis fans.

The other part of Thursday is a nod to American Sam Querrey and, more accurately, Sam's traveling posse of fans. These guys are a lot of fun and make any Sam Querrey match twice as entertaining. They're called the Samurai, and along with Querrey, they'll make an appearance here on the blog and at the tournament site. There will be Samurai T-shirts designed by the man himself on sale with proceeds going to the tournament's Healthy Active Lifestyles (HAL) Outreach Program.

So that takes us through the middle portion of the week. Check back later for the final phase.

Thanks for reading!

Putting on a great tennis tournament starts on the court, but it doesn't stop at the baseline.

That's why the Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly is happy to bring you an entire slate of events and fun activities outside the confines of Stadium Court for the week of July 18-26.

To kick off the 2009 tournament's main draw docket, come out for Family Fun Day on Sunday, July 19. We've got a special four-pack family deal perfect for any budget: 4 regular tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 drinks and 4 commemorative tournament recycled cinch bags for just $40.

We'll also have the good folks at the USTA on hand with Quickstart tennis demonstrations and their furry, fun-loving mascot ACE. Kids will get a chance to take pictures with ACE and have a chance to win their own Quickstart set - a small self-standing net, softer ball and more manageable racket. Radio Disney will be on hand with the usual boat-load of music, fun and games, and we'll have tennis clinics throughout the day.

Information on area tennis camps and programs will be available, and we'll be offereing free tours of our new VIP lounge, Club 1921.

On Monday, July 20, we'll have a cool event in downtown Indianapolis called Tennis at the Market, where select ATP players will come give the lunch crowd a show from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on a temporary court at City Market (corner of Delaware and Market St.). Players will be signing autographs and we'll have giveaways and chances to win tickets to the semis and finals.

Tennis at the Market will also be a great chance to sample the fares at City Market, a bustling vendor village with lots of great food and fun shops, and a special Buy-one Get-one free ticket deal will be available, making this a grea time to buy your tickets, too!

On that afternoon, as the bulk of the main draw matches get underway at the Tennis Center on the campus of IUPUI, kids 12 and under will get in free. That's right, get one 12 and under free child's ticket with each purchase regular ticket.

The rest of the schedule is full of great stuff, too, but I'll let you mull over the first couple of days first. Tomorrow I'll lay out the next part of the special events schedule.

Thanks for reading!

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Come see the stars hit the hard court at the Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly, the first stop on the Olympus US Open Series, July 18-26 at the Indianapolis Tennis Center on the Campus of IUPUI.

World No. 6 Andy Roddick has committed to play in the tournament, as has rising American newcomer Sam Querrey and the year's best comeback story, former No. 21 Taylor Dent, who's climbed almost 600 places in the ATP Tour World Rankings since his return from a 3-year injury-caused hiatus in January.

Get your tickets today! Call 800-622-LOVE or buy online at www.tennisindy.com.

Another lovely Monday, and another batch of ATP Tour World Rankings.

There was not a whole lot of movement this week at the top of the charts, as Rafael Nadal remained No. 1 despite an upset loss at Roland Garros, while Roger Federer is still No. 2 despite winning the French, his 14th Grand Slam and the one that gave him a career Slam, too.

The top-ranked American player, Andy Roddick, hung in at No. 6 after his best run on the RG clay since 2001. Bidding for his fifth title at Queen's Club next, Roddick is a mainstay in the top 10 and has proven consistently that, whether you care for his personality or not, he is one of the world's best tennis players.

Of course, if he could win another Grand Slam -- perhaps Wimbledon -- that would solidify his status even further.

Roddick, of course, has committed to play in the 2009 Indianapolis Tennis Championships Presented by Lilly held July 18-26 in Indianapolis. Wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't remind you tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 800-622-LOVE.

While Roddick holds firm at No. 6, American Sam Querrey, who has also committed to the 2009 Indianapolis Tennis Championships, managed to climb up to No. 46 this week, up eight spots. Perhaps his wins in the World Team Championships May 17 over then No. 29 Rainer Schuettler and Roland Garros finalist, No. 25 Robin Soderling, helped Querrey make the climb.

Regardless, he's playing well of late and deserves to continue his rise. He's through the third round at Queen's Club.

The third American already set to play in Indy this summer, Taylor Dent, climbed six spots.

The French Open was exciting from the start. It should have come as no surprise, then, that the finish would be wild as well.

Of course, we can only cite an unruly fan for the drama of the finals -- a frightening scene wherein said spectator ran onto the court and attempted to put a hat on Roger Federer -- because there was little in the championship tilt.

Federer cruised in straight sets over Robin Soderling for the win, 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4, giving Federer his 14th Grand Slam title to tie legend Pete Sampras and complete his career grand slam.

"It's maybe my greatest victory, or certainly the one that removes the most pressure off my shoulders," Federer said. "I think that now and until the end of my career, I can really play with my mind at peace, and no longer hear that I've never won Roland Garros."

It's just a shame that instead of getting its just celebration, Federer's accomplishment will in part be remembered for the mad fan -- especially in this sport, where we watched not so long ago with horror as another unwelcome intruder attacked Monica Seles.

Thankfully this crazy was not that crazy.