The United States Tennis Association (USTA)  announced the return of its SmashZone Mobile Tour, which will hit the road for a 22-city tour to introduce youth tennis to kids and parents across the country. SmashZone began as the premier fan interactive attraction at the US Open before being showcased across the country. Since its inception in 2011, SmashZone has attracted more than 2 million people to its tennis courts.

The 2013 U.S. Open will provide the richest purse in tournament history as the total prize money available is set to increase 28% over 2012 to $33.6 million. This increase in prize money comes on the heels of an agreement with the ATP World Tour and WTA that "ensures the vitality and competitiveness of the US Open as a world class, premier event for many years to come."

Music sensation Redfoo, of the music group LMFAO, and “Heroes” TV star Sendhil Ramamurthy have both entered the 2013 US Open National Playoffs, which provides the opportunity for all players 14 years of age and older to earn a berth into the US Open.

From Mauritius to Mexico the world united on Monday 4 March to celebrate World Tennis Day.

With events taking place across the globe in a bid to promote tennis and increase participation among young players, there was plenty going on to keep followers on social media and fans in stands entertained.

To help promote Tennis Night in America to retailers and the industry, we’re mailing BNP Paribas Showdown posters and copies of the “Parent’s Guide to Tennis” to tennis providers, especially in the metro NYC area, NJ and Connecticut. We encourage you to position the posters in high-traffic areas of your shop and consider offering a tie-in promotion with Tennis Night in America. The “Parent's Guide to Tennis” is a great tool to help inform parents of the 2012 rule change for 10 and Under Tennis and explain the benefits of starting kids off with the right sized equipment on smaller courts.

Are you ready for March 4? That’s an important day for tennis and for this industry. Here in the U.S., March 4 is “Tennis Night in America,” and across the globe, it’s “World Tennis Day.”

New York, New York – January 30, 2013— After successfully defending her Australian Open title Victoria Azarenka remains atop the World rankings as No. 1 as Rafael Nadal is set to make his first U.S. appearance at the annual BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden on Monday, March 4.  The upcoming event featuring Azarenka v. Serena Williams and Nadal v. Juan Martin del Potro will headline a full day of nationwide activities as part of Tennis Night in America as well as the inaugural World Tennis Day.

There’s a new tennis tournament that doubles as family time. The 2013 National Family Tennis Championships offers thousands of amateur players across America the opportunity to team up with a family member to earn the right to play for a national title in New York City from Aug. 22 to 26.  Tennis facilities interested in being one of the 300 host sites have until February 28 to sign-up.

March 4, 2013, will be an important day for tennis and the tennis industry across the globe. Some of the greatest champions in the game will take to the court during the BNP Paribas Showdowns in New York City and Hong Kong for a night of exciting tennis. The Showdown in NY will kick off the USTA's "Tennis Night in America," and StarGames Inc, the producers of the BNP Paribas Showdowns, has partnered with the International Tennis Federation to designate March 4 as "World Tennis Day" across the globe.

The Upper St. Claire (Pa.) Tennis Development Program, Inc.  won the inaugural Cardio Tennis Get Fit Challenge, in which tennis facilities from across country competed in a five-week challenge designed to help participants reach their health and fitness goals.