2006 ACURA CLASSIC OPPORTUNITY TOURNAMENTS OFFER TALENTED YOUNG PLAYERS A CHANCE TO COMPETE AGAINST TOP - RANKED PROFESSIONALS

SAN DIEGO, CA, July 5, 2006 – Are you a talented tennis player who wants to kick your game up a notch and try your hand at playing some of the world’s top stars? In three local “Opportunity Tournaments,” the 2006 Acura Classic is giving talented locals, as well as any qualified lower-ranked or unranked players who wish to enter, a chance to potentially match skills against the world’s top professionals.  The tournaments, which begin today, will be held in Pacific Palisades (July 5-9), San Clemente (July 11-15), and San Diego (July 19-23). The three events will give relatively unknown tennis players a shot at competing in this year’s Acura Classic, a Tier I tournament to be held July 29th – August 6th at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, CA.

Three of the 2006 Acura Classic’s four “Wild Card” entries into the qualifying rounds will be given out to the respective winners of each Opportunity Tournament (the fourth Wild Card recipient will be chosen by the tournament directors). Draw size for each Opportunity Tournament will be limited to 32 players. Acceptances will be made according to WTA TOUR ranking, college record, and/or junior record.  Each Opportunity Tournament requires a $35 entry fee. For entry forms for the San Clemente and San Diego tournaments, please visit www.acuraclassic.com or contact the tennis centers directly for more information.

According to Raquel Giscafré of Promotion Sports, Inc., the Acura Classic has already received many inquiries about the Opportunity tournaments and notes: “Because our player field is so deep, an entry into our Qualifying rounds means that you will be playing against competitors often ranked in the world’s top 70 or even better. We love to give players who may be less experienced the chance to test themselves against such high-level competition, and it’s also a treat for fans who may wish to cheer on their ‘local heroes.’”

Former Opportunity Tournament winners include local favorites Alexandra Stevenson and Angelica Gavaldon. Last year’s winners were Lindsey Nelson, Biffy Kaufmann and Amanda Fink.
 
Promotion Sports, Inc., which owns the Acura Classic and promotes a variety of professional tennis events, is a private corporation headquartered in Carlsbad, California. Founded in 1982 by Raquel Giscafré and Jane Stratton, former professional tennis players, the company is dedicated to promoting sports and women’s tennis worldwide.

The Acura Classic is sponsored by American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

For more information and to purchase tickets for the Acura Classic, fans can call the Tournament Box Office at 760-438-5683, or visit www.acuraclassic.com.