We did it!!

Thanks to all of you, the RTA is pleased to announce that Richmond has been confirmed as one of the top three finalists in the 2010 Best Tennis Town in America contest sponsored by the USTA. The other two finalists are Atlanta, GA, and Charleston, SC. All three cities will all be participants in a special awards ceremony during the U.S. Open in September (date and time to be determined) where the Best Tennis Town 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will be officially announced. At best, we will return from NYC with the Best Tennis Town title and $100,000 for Richmond tennis. But with 2nd place receiving $50,000 and 3rd receiving $25,000, we are delighted with our success no matter the final outcome.

Many thanks are owed to all of the RTA volunteers, city officials, and tennis clubs who campaigned so feverishly over the past two weeks, with special thanks to the local media outlets and organizations (local network affiliates, sports radio, Richmond Times Dispatch, Richmond Sports Backers, Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond, Retail Merchants Association, and others) who helped bring tennis to the forefront of our community.

Thanks also to the power of social media networking and the Internet, we enjoyed the support of the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section, USTA/Virginia, the Washington Kastles World Team Tennis organization, and community tennis associations and clubs from around the nation---from the Canyon Creek Women’s Racquet Club in Dallas, TX, to the Roseville Community Tennis Association in Granite Bay, CA.

Be sure to check this site in the coming weeks—we’ll post the date and time for the ceremony once we have the information. Meanwhile, please join the RTA in spreading the great news for tennis in Richmond!