Orlando Features USTA National Campus Opening, PowerShares Event in January

An artist’s rendering of the USTA National Campus in Orlando

Orlando will celebrate two firsts in January 2017 when the USTA National Campus opens its doors to the public on Jan. 2, and the PowerShares Series visits on Jan. 5 featuring John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Andy Roddick and James Blake.

The “New Home of American Tennis” in the Lake Nona area of Orlando, the USTA National Campus is a state-of-the-art facility with 100 courts, housing the USTA’s Community Tennis and Player Development divisions, as well as the University of Central Florida’s tennis teams. The campus is divided into dedicated areas that focus on the pathway from the youngest players to recreational players, to collegians, to future professional players and professional tour-level players.

The PowerShares Series is the first major professional tennis event in Orlando in almost 20 years.

“January will be the most exciting month for tennis that Orlando has ever experienced,” said Jim Courier, the U.S. Davis Cup captain, co-founder of the PowerShares Series and a part-time Orlando resident. “The USTA’s ‘Home of American Tennis’ will open to the public and begin full operations shortly after the new year, and then professional tennis will be played at the Amway Center for the first time when the PowerShares Series hits town. It’s going to be an amazing start to 2017.”

The PowerShares Orlando stop will feature three former No. 1s and a former world No. 4. The event begins with McEnroe taking on Courier, followed by Blake against Roddick, and then the semifinal winners squaring off in the final.

“We are very excited that the PowerShares Series will bring world-class tennis to Orlando,” said USTA Chief Executive, Community Tennis and USTA National Campus Kurt Kamperman. “Along with the opening of the USTA National Campus, Orlando has become an ultimate destination for tennis fans and players of all ages and abilities.”

The USTA National Campus will be open to the public and will be able to accommodate every type of tennis competition and program, from youth tennis events to age-based national championships.

Roddick won the PowerShares Series points title last year, raising trophies at a record eight events, with Blake finishing second in the point standings. Tickets, schedules and this season’s remaining PowerShares Series schedule with player fields can be found at www.PowerSharesSeries.com.