World-Class Professional Tennis Returns to Tiburon Peninsula Club

Online, September 17, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The USTA is pleased to announce that the Tiburon Peninsula Club will host the $100,000 First Republic Bank Tiburon Challenger from October 8-16, 2011. The tournament, a USTA Pro Circuit event, offers $100,000 in prize money this year, thus doubling the prize money from just a year ago. The increase in prize money is sure to attract even more top players from around the world, including several players fresh from the courts of the US Open and Wimbledon.

"We are thrilled that our tournament now has $100,000 in prize money," says Scott Potthast, Tennis Director at Tiburon Peninsula Club and Tiburon Challenger Director. "The USTA loves our tournament and sees our event as a lead-up to the Australian Open, which provided a great incentive to increase the prize money. With the increase in prize money comes additional ATP points, so I do expect to see higher ranked players and some well-known names this year."

The field for the FRB Tiburon Challenger features 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams from around the globe. Players ranked as high as #75 in the world will be competing. James Blake, who has had a recent resurgence onto the ATP main tour, is one of the names leading this year's field of play. All contributions to the $100,000 First Republic Bank Tiburon Challenger go to the California Mentor Foundation, who donates proceeds to the Foundation for Reed Schools, benefiting physical education programs.

Tickets to the $100,000 First Republic Bank Tiburon Challenger can be purchased online at http://tiburonchallenger.com/tickets/. Single day, weekend daily and weekend 2-day passes are available. Admission is free October 8-9.

Live updates throughout the Tiburon Challenger tournament will be posted at http://tiburonchallenger.com/, Facebook & Twitter.

About the USTA Pro Circuit
With 94 tournaments throughout the country and prize money ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, the USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the US Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis players, as well as a platform for established professionals. Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, James Blake and Andy Murray are among today's top players who began their professional careers on the USTA Pro Circuit. The USTA Pro Circuit is world class tennis administered on the local level and played on local courts as part of the fabric of communities nationwide.

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For more information contact:
Michelle Keane
Tournament Press Aide
Tel: 415.894.0443
Email: michellek[at]tiburonpc[dot]org
http://www.contentstrategyonline.com/contact

** Media planning to attend the event should call in advance with any special requests **