The tennis complex at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney World in Orlando, Florida will host some of the best college tennis players in the country at the USTA Collegiate Clay Court Championships to be held November 5-8.
Hosted by Florida State University, the USTA Collegiate Clay Courts will feature 38 men’s and women’s teams from around the country competing in Grand Slam-size 128-player size draws. The event will be televised on ESPN3.
Players from all-time winningest program University of Southern California, under coach Peter Smith, headline the men’s field that also feature teams from Pepperdine, Illinois, Baylor, Michigan, TCU, Miami, Kentucky, Notre Dame, South Carolina, South Alabama, Stetson, Troy, Florida State, Central Florida, Penn State, Georgia Tech, Clemson, University of North Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University.
Players from six-time NCAA team champion Florida Gators headline the women’s field that will also feature teams from Georgia, Louisiana Tech, Virginia Tech, Columbia, Stetson, Troy, Clemson, Central Florida, Syracuse, Youngstown State, NC State, Florida State, South Alabama, BYU, University of North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, Old Dominion and Kansas State.
The tennis complex at ESPN Wide World of Sports includes 10 world-class clay courts, including a stadium court which can seat more than 1,000 spectators. The facility has hosted a variety of major tennis events over the years, including the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships that was won by Jim Courier, Michael Chang while in Orlando. Other tennis stars who have graced the courts include Venus and Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Billie Jean King and Andy Roddick.
Clemson swept both the singles titles at the 2014 event as Hunter Harrington won the men’s singles title and Joana Eidukonyte won the women’s singles title.
The Tennis Resort at ESPN Wide World of Sports is also offering travel and play packages for those wanting to attend the event. Two nights of hotel accommodations that includes daily buffet breakfasts, two admissions per person for Epcot Center and other Disney parks, access to all events at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, including the USTA Collegiate Clay Courts, as well as court time for play, are offered starting at $495 for a Buena Vista Suites Package and $595 for the Waldorf Astoria Orlando Package. For more information, go to www.TennisWDW.com
Carlos Goffi, the former coach of John and Patrick McEnroe and author of the famed tennis training book “Tournament Tough,” is the new tennis director at the Tennis Complex at the ESPN Wide World of Sports and is offering tennis packages and programs throughout the year, including special Ladies Tennis Getaways, as can be read about here: http://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/12334
For more on Goffi and the Tennis Complex at ESPN Wide World of Sports here: http://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/11438 and follow them on Twitter at @TennisWDW
