HP Pavilion at San Jose - Feb 11-17, 2013 |
CommunitySAP Open Kids Day
SAP Open Kids Day is back for the 17th year! This FREE event will take place on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at HP Pavilion at San Jose.
The 2012 SAP Open (the premier men’s professional tennis tournament in Northern California) will feature 2011 SAP Open championMIlos Raonic (CAN), top-10 talent Gael Monfils (FRA), top Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake, as well as many others.
SAP Open Kids Day features an educational format including a demonstration by professional tennis players and information on health and fitness and sportsmanship. In addition to the on-court presentation, the SAP Open hosts an essay contest for all students scheduled to attend the event. Twelve lucky students will win a prize package and be invited down to the court to meet the pros and participate in various tennis drills.
After the program, classes will have the option to watch a professional tennis match.
Information will be sent to schools in November 2011! If you would like more information on the event, contact Lynley Takaki at ltakaki@sharkssports.net.
We look forward to seeing you on Friday, Feb. 17! The SAP Open will be played February 13-19, 2012 at HP Pavilion at San Jose. Ticket packages for the SAP Open will be available in the coming months. For more information on tickets, call (408) ACE-2121 or www.sapopentennis.com.
The SAP Open and the ATP take pride in contributing thousands of dollars every year to local and national charities. Below are some charities we support.
East Palo Alto Tennis And Tutoring Program The East Palo Alto Tennis Program began in 1990 after two years of successful summer programs organized by Jeff Arons of the Youth Tennis Foundation, an organization that promotes tennis instruction for inner-city youth. After consultation with the superintendent of the Ravenswood City School District, Dr. Charlie Mae Knight, a plan was developed to construct a new tennis facility. Four tennis courts were built on the site of the Ravenswood Middle School (now Cesar Chavez Academy). By the spring of 1991, the program fielded a team of twelve players to compete in the middle school league and in sanctioned tennis tournaments throughout the Bay Area. In 1992, the program implemented a tutorial offering one-on-one academic assistance - by volunteer academic tutors - for 21 tennis team members. Since then, the program has grown tremendously. In 1995 the ATP honored EPATT as one of the nation's top 10 inner city tennis programs. Today, approximately 100 children participate in both the tennis instruction and academic tutoring program. In addition, more than 100 volunteers work with the program on a consistent basis. In 1997 the program moved to Stanford University and now operates at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium.  Jim Zimmerman Memorial Ballkids Award Jim Zimmerman, a Northern California native, served as our Tournament Referee for many years through the 1990's. On August 4, 2001--after a one-year battle with brain cancer--Jim passed away. A memorial service was held in Jim's honor at the 2001 U.S. Open and was attended by his family and several hundred friends in the tennis business--including most of the U.S. Open chair and line umpires, USTA supervisors, representatives of the ATP and WTA professional tennis tours, tournament directors (including Barry MacKay & Bill Rapp) plus Arlen Kantarian, chief executive, professional tennis of the USTA, Bill Babcock, head of men's tennis for the International Tennis Federation (ITF), Hall of Famer Stan Smith and Michael Chang and his family.
The hope of the SAP Open staff was that something could be put in place to always remember the positive impact Jim had on so many people's lives. With that in mind, we established the Jim Zimmerman Fund. The fund has already received thousands of dollars in donations from tennis organizations, coaches, chair & line umpires and other tournament directors.
At the request of Jim's wife Barbara (and their 3 sons), we have established this fund to recognize one veteran SAP Open Ballkid (boy or girl) who will be selected annually to work for two weeks at the U.S. Open. The Jim Zimmerman Fund will provide a perpetual stipend that will help defray the costs of this trip for the ballkid.
We are excited that the Jim Zimmerman Fund is now a reality and pleased that this Ballkid award is in place to perpetually remember Jim's life.
The 2008 recipient of The Jim Zimmerman Memorial Ballkids Award for the 2008 SAP Open is Will Conner. Will's experience at 2008 US Open can be read by clicking here.
SAP Open Honored By City Of San Jose On Tuesday, November 4, 2004, the SAP Open was honored by Mayor Ron Gonzales, Councilman Forrest Williams and the entire City Council - with a special commendation for contributions made by the tournament within the San Jose community including the major tennis court resurfacing and renovation project at Los Paseos Park. The SAP Open partnered with the United States Tennis Association (USTA), NorCal to provide $17,500 in funding to repair and resurface the four courts - and to install new net posts, nets and bleachers. The work was completed at a reduced price by Vintage Contractors based in San Francisco (court installer for the SAP Open). The ceremony took place at the weekly City Council meeting. On hand to accept the Official Commendation Plaque from Mayor Gonzales were SVS&E President and CEO Greg Jamison, SAP Open Tournament Director Bill Rapp, SAP Open Tournament Chairman Barry MacKay, SVS&E Vice President of Ticket Sales and Marketing Kent Russell, USTA Instructor Don Johnson and USTA representative Tony Silveria.
"Being actively involved in - and giving back to - our community is a vital part of what the SAP Open is about," said Tournament Director Rapp. "Partnering with USTA, NorCal, Vintage Contractors and USTA, National made this project financially possible. The SAP Open brings world-class tennis to the Silicon Valley just one week each year - but now hundreds of San Jose children and families have the opportunity to utilize a first-class tennis facility 365 days a year!"
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2012 SAP OPEN CHAMPIONS
Singles - [3] Milos Raonic (CAN)
Doubles - [4] Mark Knowles (BAH)/ Xavier Malisse (BEL)
We'll see you next year at the 2013 SAP Open - February 11-17 at HP Pavilion at San Jose
exclusive updates from Milos Raonic |
