Tennis’ youngest fans will rule over the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing on Saturday, August 28 when the annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day is held as a kick-off to the U.S. Open.
The event, which is being presented by Hess, is now in its 15th year. It will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
One of the main features of the day will be a live tennis and music stadium show from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be exhibition matches, skills competitions and performances.
Some of the slated participates are Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, Novak Djokovic, the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lavato, Nick Cannon and David Archuleta. This year’s hosts will be Adrienne Bailon and Quddus.
“We have seen some of the biggest names in tennis and entertainment on the court during Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess,” said USTA Chief Marketing Officer Harlan Stone. “Our 15th year will be no different, and this day of excitement and fun for kids and families, will again honor a great humanitarian and icon of our sport.”
That icon is Richmond, Virginia-born tennis player Arthur Ashe, who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985. He is the only African American player to win the men’s singles title at the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, or the Australia Open.
Kids’ Day will benefit the National Junior Tennis and Learning network, which was created in 1969 by Ashe, Charlie Parasell and Sheridan Snyder. Its mission is to use tennis and education to develop young people’s character.
During the first part of Kids’ Day, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be plenty of tennis-related activities for children to participate in. The Hess Express Obstacle Course will help test agility, balance, running and tennis skills. Through IBM Hit the Spot! kids will be able to see how fast their serves are, as tested by two radar guns.
Athletes being sponsored by Nike will help out with tennis and skill activities on two of the courts.
Children can also learn more about the sport through QuickStart Tennis, which uses specialized equipment, a shorter court, and different scoring to meet the need of youngsters.
There will also be demonstrations and clinics specifically for children with disabilities. They will be held by USTA Serves Adaptive Tennis.
At the Olympus Capture It All court, there will be volley drill stations. World Tennis Team will hold relay races and balance challenges geared towards younger children.
Along with the stadium show, there will be entertainment at the Hess Get Pumped Up Festival Stage.
Tickets for the stadium show are $10 for general admission in the promenade section or $20 for the loge section. They can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling 1-866-OPEN-TIX or by visiting www.usopen.org.
