CATCH A RISING STAR

TODAY!procircuit.usta.com

USTA PRO CIRCUIT

D R E A M S

Do you want to start your pathway to the professionals while playing college tennis but don’t know where to start? For collegiate players who want to earn ATP/WTA ranking points, there is no better place to begin than with USTA Pro Circuit Events. To help get you started, here’s a basic template for those aspiring to be a top professional. The simple acronym DREAMS will guide you along step-by-step:

USTA PRO CIRCUIT

D R E A M S

D

R

E

A

M

S

DECIDE

REGISTER

ENTER

ACCESS

MONITOR

SIGN-IN

DECIDEwhich Pro Circuit Events to Play.

Get as much information from the websites and information below, in addition to talking to your coaches, current and former pros, and others. If staying in college, just make sure to declare amateur status prior to each event played (tournament supervisor will provide documents to ensure amateur status). Women players should start by playing $10,000 prize money Pro Circuit Events. These events can be played individually or in sequence. A minimum of three tournaments must be played in a calendar year reaching at least the second round of Main Draw in order to earn a WTA ranking.

Men players should start by playing $10,000 or $15,000 prize money Futures Events. A player will start earning ATP points when he reaches the second round of the Main Draw at a Futures event.

Calendars for both men and women’s USTA Pro Circuit Events are available at www.procircuit.usta.com. The webpage is very easy to navigate through, just make sure to click the link for either Men’s/Women’s Circuit Events and then click the link for the Pro Circuit Calendar. Here you will find a detailed tournament list. For a calendar of events outside the United States please go to ITF website at itftennis.com/procircuit. For a list of cut-offs for entry into last year’s ITF Pro Circuit tournaments please click here.

D

REGISTERfor IPIN Membership.

In order to play a Pro Circuit or Futures Event, you MUST have what is called an IPIN Membership. The IPIN (International Player Identification Number) Membership allows you to enter pro tournaments online and manage your playing schedule using the entry/withdrawal feature. An IPIN consists of three letters and seven numbers (e.g. ALB1003941).

Players who register for IPIN membership will receive their own unique IPIN, which will remain the same throughout their pro career.

While it may sound intimidating, getting an IPIN membership is rather simple. Obtain your IPIN Membership by logging onto itftennis.com/ipin and complete the applicable registration form which includes paying an annual fee (Current price for annual membership is $60).

Although the IPIN (registration number) is yours for life, the IPIN Membership is only valid for the current calendar year and must be renewed every year. If you already have an IPIN from your junior tournament days just log onto itftennis.com/ipin to upgrade your membership to include the Pro Circuit.

R

ENTERPro Circuit Events.

All men’s and women’s Pro Circuit entries are completed on the ITF website, itftennis.com/ipin. The entry deadline for main draw and qualifying is on Thursday, 18 days prior to the Monday of the tournament week (8:00 AM Eastern Time in the United States). Entered qualifying players must still appear at qualifying sign-in. A $40 entry fee is due on-site.

Please pay close attention to Entry and Withdrawal deadlines to avoid occurring fines and penalties!!

The withdrawal deadline is on Tuesday, 13 days prior to the Monday of the tournament week (8:00 AM Eastern Time in the United States). Entered Qualifying and Main Draw players may withdraw by the withdrawal deadline without penalty. If you failed to enter by the Entry Deadline, you can still sign-in for Qualifying on site. However, you will be on the alternate list, behind all players who entered by the deadline.

E

SINGLES: MAIN DRAW-32 QUALIFYING-64DOUBLES: MAIN DRAW-16

MAIN DRAW SITE: PHONE: 956-412-4100 EXT. 104FAX: 956-412-4123

HARLINGEN, TX 78552 BALL: WILSON EXTRA DUTYPRO CIRCUIT WEB SITE: WWW.PROCIRCUIT.USTA.COM SURFACE: HARD / OUTDOORPRO CIRCUIT APP: SEARCH procircuit IN ITUNES APP STORE OR GOOGLE PLAYQUALIFYING SITE: HEB TENNIS CENTER PENDLETON PARK HEB PHONE: 956-789-4509

1613 MORGAN BLVD.HARLINGEN, TX 78550

TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR: ANDY CARTER DIRECTOR'S PHONE: 956-412-4100 EXT. 104DIRECTOR'S E-MAIL:USTA SUPERVISOR: SUPERVISOR'S CELL: 914-656-4755SUPERVISOR'S E-MAIL:CHIEF UMPIRE: JOY NAGATA SPORTS MEDICINE THERAPIST: BRIAN BANEY

ENTRY DEADLINE:W/DRAWAL DEADLINE:

SINGLES QUALIFYING: ENTRY FEE: $40 CASH ONLY DOUBLES MD:

SINGLES QUALIFYING: SATURDAY, APRIL 4, AT HEB TENNIS CENTER PENDLETON PARK AT A TIME TBDSINGLES MAIN DRAW: TUESDAY, APRIL 7, AT 10 AM SINGLES FINAL: APRIL 12DOUBLES MAIN DRAW: TUESDAY, APRIL 7, AT A TIME TBD DOUBLES FINAL: APRIL 12

TO ENTER: ENTRY FEE: $30 CASH OR CASHIERS CHECKQUALIFYING (ADDRESS ABOVE). DEADLINE TO MAIL IN ENTRY FEE IS ON MARCH 31AT NOON. MAIL ENTRY TO ANDY CARTER AT THE HARLINGEN COUNTRY CLUB ADDRESS.FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT ANDY CARTER AT 956-412-4100 X104.

PRO-AM: APRIL 6 FROM 5 - 7 PM. 8 PLAYERS NEEDED BY NOON ON APRIL 6. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE $40. PLAYER & SPONSOR DINNER PARTY: APRIL 6 FROM 6 - 9 PMPRO/CELEBRITY EXHIBITION: APRIL 12 (BETWEEN DOUBLES & SINGLES MATCHES)KIDS DAY CLINIC: APRIL 11 AT 9:00 AMSUNNY GLEN CHILDREN'S HOME CHARITY CLINIC: APRIL 11 AT 10:00AM

TOURNAMENT HOTEL: COURTYARD MARRIOTT - HARLINGEN PHONE: 956-412-78001725 WEST FILMORE AVENUE FAX: 956-412-7889HARLINGEN, TX 78552 GROUP BLOCK CODE: USTUSTK (KING) USTUSTD (DOUBLE)

RATES: WEBSITE: WWW.MARRIOTT.COM/HRLCY

AIRPORT:

FROM AIRPORT TO HOTEL: TO ARRANGE FOR TRANSPORTATION CONTACT SOUTH WEST TAXI CAB AT 956-507-4090. RATE IS $23-25.

FROM HOTEL TO SITE: TRANSPORTATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A SCHEDULED BASIS.

FROM AIRPORT TO HOTEL: TAKE 499 (ED CAREY DRIVE) SOUTH TO 106 (HARRISON STREET), TURN RIGHT AND PROCEED WEST TO SOUTH P STREET. TURN LEFT, PROCEED 2 BLOCKS TO WEST FILMORE.FROM HOTEL TO MAIN DRAW SITE: TAKE EXPRESSWAY 83 WEST TO FM-3195 NORTH. TURN RIGHT ON EL CAMINO REAL ROAD AND PROCEED TO CLUB.FROM HOTEL TO QUALIFYING SITE: HEAD EAST ON W. FILMORE AVENUE TOWARD SOUTH P STREET. TAKE FIRST LEFT ONTO SOUTH P STREET. TAKE FIRST RIGHT ONTO W. TYLER AVENUE. TURN LEFT AT S. 77 SUNSHINE STRIP. SLIGHT RIGHT AT CO. ROAD 507/MORGAN BOULEVARD. SITE WILL BE ON THE LEFT.

HARLINGEN COUNTRY CLUB

KASAVAGE@USTA.COMPETER KASAVAGE

ENTRY DEADLINES

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

USTA AND ON-SITE STAFF

A USTA PRO CIRCUIT EVENTHARLINGEN, TEXAS

APRIL 4 - 12, 2015

5500 EL CAMINO REAL

TOTAL PRIZE MONEY: $15,000ITF CODE: USA F12

HARLINGEN COUNTRY CLUB

ANDYCARTERTENNIS@AOL.COM

MEN'S $15,000 FUTURES

2014 CUTOFFS (HELD WEEK OF MARCH 31): MD SINGLES-949 Q SINGLES-BYES MD DOUBLES-BYES

WWW.ITFTENNIS.COM/IPIN

FRIDAY, APRIL 3 FROM 4-6 PM AT THE HOTEL

TUESDAY, MARCH 24 AT 14:00 HRS. GMT

AIRPORT

DIRECTIONS

TRANSPORTATION

SIGN-IN INFORMATION

TOURNAMENT ACTIVITIES

$109 + TAX/NIGHT

HARLINGEN/VALLEY INTERNATIONAL (HRL)

WILD CARD EVENTEVENT HELD FROM APRIL 1 - 3 AT SITE OF

MONDAY, APRIL 6, CLOSES AT 12 NOON ON SITESCHEDULE OF PLAY

TICKET INFORMATIONTICKETS ARE $5 ON SATURDAY,APRIL 11 & SUNDAY, APRIL 12 ONLY. COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION FOR ALL OTHER DAYS.

HOTEL INFORMATION

ALL ENTRIES & WITHDRAWALS MUST GO THROUGHTHURSDAY, MARCH 19 AT 14:00 HRS. GMT

ACCESSthe Pro Circuit Website.

Your goal should be to familiarize yourself with the USTA website procircuit.usta.com and ITF website itftennis.com. This is a must for every future pro tennis player.

Knowing your way around the USTA Pro Circuit website and the ITF website is one of the first and last things to master. Here you will find important information such as Tournament Calendars, Entry Lists, Pro Circuit Rules and Regulations, Freeze Deadlines, Amateur Reimbursement Forms and Tournament Fact Sheets. FACT SHEETS are posted online approximately one month prior to the start of each event and provide important details such as sign-in dates, location, player activities and hotel information.

Also learn about Players with a National Top 500 ranking (on file with the ITF) regarding this and other information for acceptance into all circuit events.

A

MONITORthe Entry Lists.

This step is important to verify whether you made it into Main Draw or Qualifying. Entry lists are available the day after the entry deadline both on the ITF website and on the USTA Pro Circuit website. Entry lists change frequently so check them often. It is your responsibility to verify if you have moved into Qualifying from the Alternates list or into Main Draw from the Qualifying list.

Once accepted into Main Draw or Qualifying of an event, a player is committed to play only that event for that week.

Pay attention to what is called the FREEZE DEADLINE! On Thursday prior to the start of the Tournament Week, players still on the Alternate list will no longer move into Qualifying but will remain on the Alternates List. Players remaining on an Alternate list who want to play will be accepted into the draw as space is available according to the System of Merit. On site alternates who did not enter the tournament will be accepted into the draw as space is available according to the System of Merit.

M

SIGN-INat the Tournament.

The player (YOU) must Sign-In the day before qualifying play begins. This last step requires you to be physically present to sign-in for Qualifying or as an On-Site Alternate in order to compete. For most USTA Pro Circuit Events, sign-in takes place from 4-6 p.m. the day before Qualifying play. Check the FACT SHEET for sign-in details.

No one other than the player may sign-in for the player and there is NO TELEPHONE SIGN-IN. Therefore, you MUST be physically present to sign-in for Qualifying!!

S

Congratulations and best of luck

in following your DREAMS!We hope this was helpful in understanding the basic steps to begin competing on the USTA Pro Circuit. For more detailed information check out the “Getting Started” link at procircuit.usta.com

Cover photos: court ©Stephen Appel; doubles ©Rob Vomund; Jenkins, Chirico ©Anthony Behar ©2015 USTA Pro Circuit. All rights reserved.