The old good tennis

Amidst the current financial crisis, students talented in sports, such as tennis, apply for college athletic scholarships.  Many talented high school tennis players are hoping to get noticed during college tennis recruiting.  In the U.S., a collegiate circuit which oversees the processes involved in college athletic scholarships is organized by the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

The first of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments held each year is the Australian Open. The tournament is scheduled in January at Melbourne Park. The championship was played for the first time in 1905, and was fought on grass from 1905 through 1987. However, the tournament has been held on hard courts beginning in 1988, at Melbourne Park. Mats Wilander remains the only male player to have won the Grand Slam on both grass and hard courts.

There are men’s and women’s singles competitions in the Australian Open, just like all other Grand Slam tournaments.  These are men’s tournament, the women’s, and the mixed doubles; as well as junior’s and master’s competitions.

The two primary courts in the Australian Open are Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena.  These feature retractable roofs, which can be shut during rain or in days of extreme heat. Since it is held in the middle of the Australian summer, the Australian Open is well-known for its notoriously hot days. An extreme-heat policy is put into play when temperatures (and humidity) reach dangerous levels.  This is also the only Grand Slam tournament that features indoor play at present, although Wimbledon’s Centre Court in London is scheduled to have a retractable roof in 2009.

The Internet has proven to be a useful venue for both students and coaches involved in the applying for college athletic scholarships.  There are many websites and online forums wherein students and scouts can come together and interact.  D1Athletes is an online community wherein students and coaches alike can share and exchange information they need during college tennis recruiting.  D1Athletes offers them a place to build an online presence and gain important public exposure.

Each year, many high school tennis athletes are hoping to get noticed during college tennis recruiting.  College sports has an influence and popularity in the U.S unlike in any other country. This phenomenon is due to the scope of the participation and competition resulting from these organizations. A great number of colleges, universities, and individual athletes participate in college competitions of various sports.  College tennis the United States is organized by the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

The Championships, Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, and is also widely considered by fans and professionals as the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in the London suburb of Wimbledon since 1877. It is the oldest of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, and the only one still played on grass courts.

The tournament takes place in a period of over two weeks, from late June to early July.  It runs Monday to the second following Sunday.  The middle Sunday is usually set aside as a rest day for the players, with the climax being the gentlemen’s singles final, scheduled for a Sunday. Players participate in five major events, as well as four junior events and four invitational events.

Wimbledon traditions include royal patronage, strict dress code for competitors, and the audience watching the games while eating strawberries and cream.  A less popular tradition is the “rain stops play” calls, which usually result in schedule over-runs.  The construction of a retractable roof to Centre Court from 2009 is expected to reduce such calls.

The cost involved in pursuing a college degree can prove daunting, especially with the current financial crisis. Thus many high school tennis athletes are hoping to get noticed during college tennis recruiting.  The Internet has proven to be a useful venue for both student tennis athletes and coaches involved in the process of college tennis recruiting.  There are many websites and online forums wherein students and scouts can come together and interact.  D1Athletes is an online community wherein high school tennis athletes and coaches alike can share and exchange information they need during college tennis recruiting.  D1Athletes offers them a place to build an online presence and gain important public exposure.