USTA, the governing body for USA Tennis, has so much going on in the month of March to get your kids interested in tennis, let them give it a try or to help experienced players step up their game.

Starting with their 10 and Under Tennis program they are working towards getting more kids to participate in tennis using modified equipment and courts tailored to a child’s size. By featuring shorter and lighter racquets, slower-bouncing balls, smaller courts and simplified scoring, children learn to play more quickly and easily while having more fun in the process. If you are interested in getting more on kids tennis opportunities in your community or even how to decide what equipment to buy, the 10 and Under Tennis site will be very helpful.

Other initiatives that USTA has starting this spring that can help jumpstart your child’s interest in tennis include:

Tennis Night in America and March into Tennis

The USTA will leverage “Tennis Night in America” to generate awareness for youth tennis and kick off a month-long promotional drive to get kids active.  Throughout March, more than 1,200 youth tennis events will take place across the country.  A variety of organizers including clubs, after-school programs, parks and recreation, Community Tennis Associations and others will host youth registration events, Play Days and launching Kids’ Tennis Clubs as part of the USTA’s largest-ever youth tennis recruitment effort.

SmashZone Mobile Tour

To reach new audiences to promote health and fitness, the USTA is hitting the road and traveling across the county. SmashZone, the premiere interactive fan experience at the US Open, will introduce youth tennis to kids and adults. SmashZone is equipped with tennis courts, interactive games and prizes. Audiences will have the opportunity to play tennis games right then and there. The events will allow participants to get a racquet in their hand from the start.

Tennis Really Rocks

The USTA and Nickelodeon recently launched the “Tennis Really Rocks” sweepstakes, in which one lucky kid will win the grand prize – a trip for four to New York to attend Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, the annual kick-off event to the US Open; as well as hang with stars of Nickelodeon’s How to Rock, Cymphonique Miller and Max Schneider. Throughout the year, Miller and Schneider will make appearances at USTA events aimed at kids and be featured in commercial and promotional spots promoting youth tennis.

Get outside and play!

Melanie Oudin is the youngest American woman to make it to the quarterfinals of America’s Grand Slam in 10 years – since Serena Williams did in 1999. And Melanie is also the youngest woman still in the US Open tournament as of now.

Melanie appeared on the Good Morning America show today saying  “Anything can happen. There’s no stopping me now I think and I’m just going to keep playing the way I play, and fighting hard, and I think that’s the best you can do.” Below is a clip from the press conference at the US Open:

Melanie plays again on Wednesday, September 9 in the Quarterfinals.

How much more you ask? Last year, men’s champion Roger Federer received $1.170 million and women’s winner Amelie Mauresmo got $1.117 million. I’m not sure how The All England Club got away with this all these years.

Anyhow, I am glad to see that the playing field has finally be leveled and the women who work and train as hard as their male counterparts will be compensated equally!!!