Love, This Game

Ladies and gentlemen, grab your neck braces: The 2008 American Tennis Association (ATA) Nationals are about to be in full swing. So yes, that means you will be sitting in the stands trying to keep your eyes on a fuzzy neon green ball flying back and forth across a three-foot-high net. Whiplash, anyone? Since 1917, the ATA has brought tennis enthusiasts of all colors to stadiums nationwide to see the top African-American players in the country duke it out for the championship title. The organization has played a huge part in the careers of legends such as Arthur Ashe, Zina Garrison, and Althea Gibson, and this year’s tourney will surely see some adult and junior players serving up forehands and backhands inspired by these idols. Whether doubles or singles is your game, cop a seat at the Crandon Park Tennis Center and watch the balls fly.

The finals will be played August 8, but the junior matches and registration begin at 8 a.m. Sunday. There’s a welcome mixer at the InterContinental Hotel (100 Chopin Plz., Miami) starting at 7 that night, but don’t stay out too late — the games begin at 8 a.m. Monday. Visit www.atanational.com for a full schedule of events.
Aug. 3-8, 2008