Release 4

 

Sacramento, CA. (September 30, 2009). Glenn Davis, Tournament Director at the Natomas/USTA $50,000 Men’s Tennis Tournament, announced today that Ryan Harrison and Jan-Michael Gambill received Wild Card entries into the main draw of the tournament.

Harrison, a Texas resident who considers grass his best surface, is one of the young up-and-coming stars in American tennis. He is currently ranked #697 in Singles on the ATP tour. Prior to turning pro in 2007, Harrison was ranked #7 in the world on the junior circuit, a position he achieved in April 2008 after reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open junior competition.

Harrison, now 17, is the third youngest player since 1990 (after Richard Gasquet and Rafael Nadal) to win an ATP level match and only the tenth player in ATP tour history to have won an ATP tour match before turning 16. At 15 years, 11 months and 7 days, after qualifying for his first ATP tournament, he defeated Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas (ranked #130 in the world) at the 2008 US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston, Texas.

Jan-Michael Gambill is an American tennis player who made his professional debut in 1996. A former American Davis Cup player, his highest singles ranking to date is World No. 14, which he first reached on June 18, 2001. Sidelined with a back injury in 2007, and now resuming his playing career, Gambill has wins over Roger Federer, Carlos Moya, Lleyton Hewitt, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. He currently resides in Hawaii.

“We are so pleased that Ryan and Jan-Mike accepted these wild cards,” says tournament director Glenn Davis. “They add interest and strength to the playing field. It isn’t often that you see an up-and-comer and a comeback player with great records in the same tournament. We’re excited.”

Davis also announced that local tennis stars Nicholas Andrews and Eric Roberson received wild cards into the qualifying event.

The tournament is October 3—11 at Natomas Racquet Club. Admission is free for spectators until the final weekend, when there will be a $5.00 per person admission charge.

Natomas Racquet Club is located at 2450 Natomas Park Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95833.

 

About Natomas Racquet Club

Natomas Racquet Club is one of ten premier Spare Time clubs located in the Greater Sacramento Metropolitan Area, Lodi and Oakley. Founded in 1973 by William M. Campbell III and his wife Margie, each Spare Time club specializes in providing state-of-the-art fitness programming, tennis instruction, sports facilities and individualized service for every member of the family.

Natomas Racquet Club serves downtown Sacramento, the Natomas area and surrounding communities. The 8 and ½ acre site includes 17 tennis courts, 5 lighted for evening play, an outdoor sand volleyball court, an aquatics complex with two pools and a spa, and a 25,000 square foot clubhouse. The clubhouse contains an indoor basketball court, Kids’ Club, Children’s Play Center, Group Exercise and Cycle Studios and luxurious locker rooms with steam and sauna.

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For more information about the Natomas/USTA $50,000 Men’s Professional Tennis Tournament, please visit the tournament website at www.natomaschallenger.com or contact Glenn Davis, Tournament Director, at 916-649-0909 or coachglennd@att.net. Information about Natomas Racquet Club is available online at www.sparetimeclubs.com.