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In June, the USTA formally opened its new 10 and Under Tennis area at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Named “DeckZone,” the 15,000-square-foot terrace connected to the Indoor Tennis Center on the US Open grounds is dedicated solely to youth tennis.

Sport Court’s PowerGame modular tennis surface was chosen to transform the area from a concrete deck to a state-of-the-art junior training center. For young players, PowerGame offers safety through its combination of shock absorption and lateral forgiveness. DeckZone has two 60-foot and three 36-foot courts.

“Our new DeckZone has provided us with the opportunity to use a space that was not being utilized to its fullest and really make it a special place for programs that will impact the children that play at the BJK NTC,” said Virgil Christian, the USTA’s director of market development and collegiate tennis.

“This provides a huge opportunity for growth in our section,” added USTA Eastern Executive Director Jill Fonte, who said more than 10 percent of non-players in the section are between 6 and 12 years old.

During the grand opening, the USTA provided free play-day sessions for kids, a cookout, and a ribbon-cutting by 13-year-old Arvind Mahankali, the current National Spelling Bee Champion, who plays tennis and trains three times a week at the NTC.

“DeckZone is a special destination for our kids. They can use these courts to cement their learning while playing with peers or their parents,” said Whitney Kraft, director of tennis at the NTC.