Large Prize Payout & Tennis Greats To Be Featured At Local Tennis Tournament

By Alicia Martin

On Saturday, May 3 from 1-7 p.m. the One-On-One Doubles Grand Prix Circuit Tournament, held at the Buckhorn Springs Tennis & Swim Club located at 2721 S. Miller Rd. in Valrico, will occur. On Friday, May 2 will be the qualifying tournament from 5-7 p.m. at the same location. The winner will earn a wildcard entry in to the main event on Saturday. There will be $4,000 up for grabs in prize money. This will be the third One-On-One Doubles Grand Prix Circuit Tournament event in Florida leading up to the National One-On-One Doubles Tournament and Rockin’ Blues Event to be held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the U.S. Open, on Sunday, November 9.

Former tennis greats will also be in attendance at the One-On-One Doubles Grand Prix Circuit Tournament including Andy Lake, winner of 31 USTA National Gold Balls and finalist of the BMW Pro One-On-One Doubles Tournament in 2007. Roscoe Tanner will also be there who holds 16 ATP Singles Titles and 13 ATP Doubles titles and was a Wimbledon Singles Finalist in 1979. Ashley Fisher who reached the semifinals of the 2006 US Open Doubles, Quarterfinals of Wimbledon and the Australian Open Doubles Tournaments as well as becoming a finalist at the 2009 Sony Ericsson Open Doubles Championship, will be attending as well. All three will be playing in the tournament.

There will also be a live concert with Steve Arvey’s Electric Blues Band. The band is a five-piece blues band and Arvey himself is a Sarasota resident. The concert, set to begin at 3 p.m., will coincide with the tennis tournament. “It’s sure to be a rowdy, festive atmosphere,” said Ed Krass, founder of the One-On-One. “It won’t be like the usual hush hush tournaments.”

This tournament is piloted by USTA Florida and sponsored by Miller’s Alehouse in Brandon.  A portion of the event’s proceeds will go to ALS. The pro tournament starts at 1 p.m. Admission is $5 for the tournament, $7 for the concert and $10 for both. There will be barbeque, adult beverages and refreshments available for purchase. There will be a VIP Hospitality Section offered for event partners and their guests. For more information on event partnerships, call Ed Krass at 478-3384 or Greg Jones at 230-2871. For more information, visit www.oneononedoubles.com.