NEWS

Andy Roddick was nine-years-old when his parents gave him the most memorable birthday present of his young life — a trip to the US Open. Sitting high in the stands, a small speck in a sea of faces, the boy who made the trip to New York from his home in Austin, Texas set one goal for himself that day — to move down to a better seat that would take him closer to the action. His first trip to Flushing Meadows saw Roddick scamper down from the upper deck to find a seat closer to the court. Twelve years later, he navigated a reverse route. Slamming three consecutive aces to finish the final with a flourish of pyrotechnic power, the fifth-seeded Roddick rolled to a 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero to claim the 2003 US Open crown in his first Grand Slam final. Then, the 21-year-old…

  Boys having fun at the 2008 “Little Mo” Nationals (from left, front) RJ Fresen, Oliver Weaver, Luke McClelland, and Jenson Brooksby (from left, back) Perry Gregg (Boys 8 National Champion), Noah Schachter (Boys 9 National Champion)

Dallas…The Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation has announced the following sites for their two international team competitions: the Bonne Bell Maureen Connolly Brinker Cup (U.S. vs. Australia) and the Maureen Connolly Challenge Trophy (U.S. vs. Great Britain). The Maureen Connolly Challenge Trophy will be held at the West Hants Club in Bournemouth, England from September 25-27, 2008. The match features the top five girls who are 16 & under from the United States and Great Britain. This is the 33rd annual competition between the two nations and the format is the best of eleven matches played over three days. The United States leads the competition: 20-11. This is an officially sanctioned event by the USTA and The Lawn Tennis Association of Great Britain. The Bonne Bell Maureen Connolly Brinker Cup will be held at the Royal South Yarra Club in Melbourne, Australia in November, 2008. (Date – TBA) The match…

Transition of Leadership Announced as the Foundation Celebrates its 40th Anniversary (Dallas, TX) Nancy Jeffett, chairman emeritus and co-founder of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation, announced today the new officers of the Foundation. Cindy Brinker Simmons, oldest daughter of the late Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly Brinker, who was a three-time Wimbledon winner (1952-54) and the first woman to win the Grand Slam in tennis (1953), was named as president. Brenda Brinker Bottum, the second and youngest daughter of “Little Mo,” was named vice president. Elizabeth Jeffett Norman, daughter of Mrs. Jeffett, was also named vice president. Ms. Brinker Simmons, Ms. Bottum and Ms. Norman will continue to serve as directors of the Foundation as well as Mrs. Jeffett and Norman Brinker, husband of the late Mrs. Brinker. Mrs. Jeffett will also assume the title of chairman emeritus and co-founder of the Foundation. Bryan Dunklin was elected as legal counsel…

Cindy Brinker Simmons, daugther of Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly and MCB President, signs her book (Little Mo’s Legacy) for the “Little Mo” International players at the Austin Tennis Academy in Austin, Texas. Pictured in photo are Michelle Wang (Washington), Ana Konjuh (Croatia) and Tara Donaho (Texas)

Dallas…The 10th annual “Little Mo” Nationals was held at the prestigious Austin Tennis Academy in Austin, Texas from October 20-22, 2007. The event was hosted by the Austin Tennis Academy staff, players and volunteers. The Tournament Director was Brian Notis and Assistant Tournament Director was Deb Cahill. The Opening Ceremony was held on Friday afternoon with the players parading on court to “We are the Champions”. The matches began at 8:30 am on Saturday morning and continued through Monday afternoon. The “Little Mo” Nationals is the only national tournament for young players who are 8, 9, 10 and 11 & under and is the culmination of the yearlong “Road to the Little Mo Nationals”. The “Little Mo” tournaments are designed to be fun and provide good competition for the younger player at the sectional, regional, national, and international level. The prestigious “Little Mo” Nationals draw was made up of the…

2007 “Little Mo” Internationals Austin Tennis Academy Austin, Texas

Dallas…This week, the youngest and brightest stars in tennis will be playing in the “Little Mo” Nationals at the Austin Tennis Academy in Austin, Texas from October 20-22, 2007. The event will be hosted by the Austin Tennis Academy in Austin, Texas and presented by the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation. Brian Notis is the Tournament Director and Deb Cahill is the Assistant Tournament Director. The “Little Mo” Nationals is the only national event in the United States for boys and girls 8, 9, 10 and 11 & under and is the culmination of the yearlong “Road to the Little Mo Nationals” circuit. The circuit began with over 1,500 youngsters nationwide participating and the top 128 will be featured at the Nationals. The matches will begin on Saturday morning, October 20 at 8:00 am and continue through Monday, October 22. For 30 years, the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation has…

USTA President Jane Brown Grimes, the WTA’s long serving Peachy Kellmeyer and one of Amnerica’s greatest ever champions, Tony Trabert, were on hand in Dallas last week to recognize Nancy Jeffett’s life long service to tennis at the 40th anniversary of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation. As the event is always highlighted by a junior match between the USA and Great Britain, LTA chairman Stuart Smith was also present to recognize Mrs. Jeffett’s dedication to the sport. With her own family’s support, Nancy has been a tireless promoter of the game in Texas and was especially influential in the development of the fledgling WTA Tour in those early days when World Tennis publisher Gladys Heldman and Billie Jean King, along with Philip Morris chairman Joe Cullman were busy creating the most successful world-wide tour in all of women’s sport. The USA won a closely-contested match in the 33rd Maureen…