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Macon Gains 2022 USTA Southern JTT Section Championships

October 20, 2020

ATLANTA – The Macon (Ga.) Tennis Association (MTA) has been selected as the host of the 2021 and 2022 USTA Southern Junior Team Tennis Section Championships, USTA Southern Manager and Tournament Director James Tart announced.

Last year the MTA was awarded the 2020 and 2021 tournaments. With the cancellation of the 2020 event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the contract was extended to 2022.

At least 55 teams with about 500 players from throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee are expected to play each year. Typically, at least eight players — plus managers, coaches and parents — travel to the tournament, with some teams brining more than 12 individuals. The tournament expects to use 385 hotel rooms.

The tournament will be played at the John Drew Smith Tennis Center (headquarters), along with Randy Stephens Tennis Center and, if needed, Mercer University, the Stratford Academy and the First Presbyterian Day School.

The dates of the championships are set for Aug. 13-15, 2021 and Aug. 12-14, 2022.

USTA Southern Junior Team Tennis Committee Chairman Mary Hatfield said, “We are excited that the Macon Tennis Association will host the 2021-22 championships. The association has a long tradition and history of hosting very successful events, including state Junior Team Tennis and USTA League championships, section junior and USTA League tournaments, and national tournaments.” Hatfield, a former USTA Southern staffer, previously served as tournament director.

“On behalf of USTA Southern, we are looking forward to Macon hosting our JTT Section Championships in 2021-2022,” Tart said. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 championships were canceled but Macon has extended its commitment for an additional year.”

Among the special events planned at the Randy Stephens Tennis Center are a cookout for players with inflatables and a DJ playing music. Parents will be given $10 meal vouchers for at least eight local area restaurants. A kickball game is also planned.

The MTA’s bid was supported by Macon Mayor Robert Reichert, Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO Gary Wheat and USTA Georgia Executive Director Darren Potkey.

USTA’s junior team program supports coed teams in four age levels with more than 25,000 players in USTA Southern. The teams, which represent various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations, have finished at the top of their local leagues played in 10 and Under, 12 and Under, 14 and Under, and 18 and Under levels. Within each age level, teams are divided into two different skill levels: intermediate and advanced.