The World’s Top Ranked Player to Compete in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) G1 Beach Tennis Championship in California
October 23, 2012 (Burlington, VT) – Dealer.com, the global leader in online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced it will be the presenting sponsor of the ITF G1 Hermosa Beach Open International Beach Tennis Championships, scheduled to take place October 26-28 at the Hermosa Beach Strand in Hermosa Beach, California. The world’s top-ranked players will be coming to the United States to compete for the championship title and one of the largest prizes in Beach Tennis.Beach Tennis, an internationally-recognized professional sport governed by the International Tennis Federation, is similar to regular tennis except it is played on beach courts. The sport, which has grown faster than any beach sport in recent years, involves players using beach tennis paddles and a special tennis ball. The ball is volleyed back and forth without hitting the ground and each team or player can only hit the ball once to get it over net. The atmosphere is far removed from traditional tennis tournaments. Music plays during the competition and a dance party often breaks out on the court when the games are complete.
“Dealer.com has been advocating for Beach Tennis for years and is proud to help bring this event to Southern California,” said Mark Bonfigli, founder and CEO of Dealer.com. “The company recently opened an office in Manhattan Beach and is dedicated to supporting the local community and events like this.”
Beach Tennis, which started in Italy over 30 years ago, is now played in over 70 countries. In 2011, 19 different nations hosted professional Beach Tennis events. The popularity in newer markets (like the U.S., South America, Russia and Bulgaria) is fuelling momentum for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games.
In the U.S., the Beach Tennis USA tour launched in South Carolina in 2005. The first courts in California were granted in Hermosa Beach, thanks to the on-going support of the community and West Coast Beach Tennis. There are now courts popping up in several states throughout the U.S. including Arizona, Maryland, Florida, New York, Vermont, Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, Texas and South Carolina.
“We have worked tirelessly to get the infrastructure in place to play Beach Tennis in Southern California and have been making great strides introducing the sport on the west coast,” said Donny Young, co-founder of West Coast Beach Tennis and the U.S. top-ranked team player. “There is a certain magic to Beach Tennis because it’s a fun, fast sport that is easier to play than tennis or volleyball. It really is a sport for everyone and it’s exciting to watch it start to spread across the nation.”
To register or get more information, including a gallery of popular beach tennis videos and photos and live updates and scores from the tournament, visit www.hermosabeachopen.net.