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SAN DIEGO, CA, July 20, 2006 – Promotion Sports, Inc. today announced that it will present Japanese tennis star Ai Sugiyama with its annual “Loyalty Award” on Wednesday August 2nd during the night session. The Loyalty Award has been given each year since 1998 as a way for the Acura Classic to honor a player who has shown extra special support for the tournament year after year. In the past, the award has gone to a stellar list of players including Nathalie Tauziat, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Venus Williams, Conchita Martinez, Lindsay Davenport and Mary Pierce.
This year will mark Sugiyama’s 12th straight year competing at the Acura Classic. A tireless veteran who frequently plays both doubles and singles, she reached the finals in both events last year. Throughout her history with the Acura Classic, Sugiyama has reached the quarterfinals five times, and her record includes victories over such players as Steffi Graf, Jennifer Capriati, Kim Clijsters, Mary Pierce and Svetlana Kuznetsova. She won the doubles competition here in 2003 with partner Kim Clijsters.
Noted Promotion Sports’ Raquel Giscafré: “Ai Sugiyama has not only been one of our most loyal players over the years, she has also been a true friend to the tournament. Her determination on the court is matched by her sweetness off the court. We particularly appreciate her generous help in attending sponsor events, autograph sessions with fans and other tournament activities. Notably, she also holds an amazing Acura Classic record for most time spent on the court in a single year. Last year by reaching both finals, Ai logged over 18 ½ hours of match play!”
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. Free parking for attendees will be available for opening weekend on Saturday and Sunday, July 29th and 30th.
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.
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