News

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The USTA announced today the launch of its “Follow Me to the US Open” contest that is designed to allow fans to actively engage and follow tennis all summer long from the US Open ticket on-sale on June 13, through the Olympus US Open Series and the US Open. Fans will accumulate points by engaging with the Olympus US Open Series and the US Open, and the fan who accumulates the most points at the conclusion of the 2011 US Open will receive a trip to the 2012 US Open and a one-hour hitting session in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The “Follow Me to the US Open” contest, developed in partnership with Omnigon Communications, will engage tennis fans via social media, online media, traditional media, onsite assets at all Olympus US Open Series events as well as in-broadcast assets to better show fans the connection between the Olympus US Open Series and the US Open.

Fans can accumulate points by actively sharing and engaging with Olympus US Open Series and US Open Facebook and Twitter channels (facebook.com/OlympusUSOpenSeries and @usopen), by interacting online with industry partners, checking in at Olympus US Open Series events via foursquare, and scanning QR (Quick Response) codes that will be available on-site on video boards and at sponsorship booths, in traditional print media, and on Olympus US Open Series broadcasts. Additionally, fans will have the ability to earn points during the Olympus US Open Series and US Open by playing Fantasy Tennis. The 128 fans with the most points on August 24 will be placed into a tournament-style bracket that will run through the completion of the US Open.

In addition to the grand prize — a trip to the 2012 US Open that includes a one-hour hitting session in Arthur Ashe Stadium – the runner-up will receive a $500 USOpen.org Shop gift card, and the third and fourth-place finishers will receive US Open related prizes. Additionally, the fan with the most points each week during the first five weeks of the Olympus US Open Series will receive a US Open prize.

For official rules of the “Follow Me to the US Open” contest, visit FollowMeToTheUSOpen.org. The QR Code to sign up for the “Follow Me to the US Open” contest is included in the attached PDF. The hashtag for the contest is #followmetotheUSOpen.

Now in its eighth season, the Olympus US Open Series has established itself as a true regular season of hard court tennis, linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. Fans follow the action throughout the summer through national television coverage, culminating each week with back-to-back men’s and women’s finals on Sunday afternoon. Players battle for $40 million, including a chance for bonus prize money at the US Open.

The 2011 US Open will be held from Monday, August 29 through Sunday, September 11 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess, a full-day tennis and music festival for children and families, will kick off the US Open for the 16th consecutive year and will take place on Saturday, August 27. Tickets for the 2011 US Open and Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day can be purchased:

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game.