Inaugural Collegiate Tennis Tournament will be held on Daniel Island, SC in March
January 28, 2016
Family Circle Tennis Center announced today that it would host the inaugural SHAPE Magazine Invitational at its facility March 1st – 3rd, 2016. The tournament is a one-of-a-kind event that will connect female American student-athletes who aspire to play professional tennis after college.
The winners of the SHAPE Magazine Invitational, in both singles and doubles, will receive Wild Cards into the main draw of the Volvo Car Open, April 4 – 10, 2016. In addition, the singles finalist will receive a Wild Card into the qualifying round of the Volvo Car Open, April 2 – 3, 2016.
“The SHAPE Magazine Invitational provides an incredible opportunity for American women in college tennis to play at one of the biggest tournaments on the WTA Tour, the Volvo Car Open,” said Stephen Amritraj, USTA National Collegiate Coach. “This event is the latest example of showcasing college tennis as a pathway to the pros, and providing a tournament that we hope will be a staple on the calendar.”
To be eligible to compete in the SHAPE Magazine Invitational, an athlete must be affiliated with a NCAA school, either as a current player, past player (within the last three semesters), or with a signed letter of intent or verbal agreement for Fall 2016.
“We have worked with the USTA Collegiate Directors to secure a strong player field for March’s tournament,” said Rob Eppelsheimer, Family Circle Tennis Center Tennis Operations Director. “The purpose of this event is for junior tennis players to have an opportunity to compete at the next level, and for current college players to understand the world of professional tennis. For athletes to be guaranteed three matches in a competitive tournament is an enticing prospect.”
“SHAPE’s core mission is to empower women to achieve their personal goals,” explains Tim O’Connor, SHAPE Publisher. “We are honored to be able to provide a platform that will positively impact the future of young female athletes”.
The player field has representation from athletes across the Southeast’s top universities, including Georgia, Alabama, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, South Carolina, Duke and College of Charleston, among others.
The tournament’s singles will consist of a round robin format with players divided into four groups. The winner of each group will advance to the semifinals. Group play will consist of two out of three sets, with a match tiebreak for the third set. Semifinals and finals will consist of two out of three sets
The doubles format will consist of single elimination. Group play will consist of two out of three sets with a match tiebreak for the third set
About the SHAPE Magazine Invitational:
The SHAPE Magazine Invitational is a one-of-a-kind event that helps identify young American female student-athletes who aspire to play professional tennis after their collegiate career is completed. The tournament aligns with the USTA in its stated mission to promote college tennis as a pathway to a career as a playing professional on the WTA tour. The tournament will feature a field consisting of junior, college and professional tennis players.
About the Volvo Car Open:
The Volvo Car Open is the largest women’s only tennis tournament in the world. The tournament receives four days of live broadcast domestically on ESPN2, and is viewed internationally in more than 165 countries, featuring more than 100 hours of live broadcast and more than 3,000 delayed global broadcast time, reaching 10+ million viewers worldwide. The event, formerly known as the Family Circle Cup, moved to Charleston in 2001 from Hilton Head Island and will celebrate its 44th anniversary in 2016.
