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PRESS RELEASE – Two years ago, Kaia Malakooti began taking tennis lessons with Tennis Academy of Guam. Since then, she has been competing in local tournaments and will register for the Under-10 junior division in the upcoming 2013 ASC Family Tennis Classic, which begins later this month.

“Tennis is fun and I get to play with my friends and make new friends,” said the 9-year-old Malakooti during one of her practice sessions at Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort.

The popular tournament has expanded to also include skilled and age events for those over 35 years old this year. The junior division, in particular, is USTA-sanctioned, with the young participants competing for ranking points. It also is one of several designated tournaments in the U.S. in which junior ranking points are doubled, said tournament director Joe Cepeda.

The tournament spans four weekends and is composed of 97 total events. The competition begins April 19 with skilled singles, “family” doubles, and “family” mixed doubles divisions. To play in the “family” doubles divisions, partners must be immediate family members. Beginning April 26, the skilled doubles and high school doubles divisions take center stage.

Nine year old Kaia Malakooti reaches for a backhand during a recent tennis practice session at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort tennis courts. Malakooti will compete in the upcoming 2013 ASC Family Tennis Classic in the Girls Under-10 division, the youngest junior division event of the tournament. (courtesy photo)

The junior events begin May 3, with singles, and May 10 for doubles. Also beginning May 3 are the men’s and women’s age singles and doubles divisions. Mixed doubles and age mixed doubles divisions begin the weekend of May 10.

The fee to enter is $23 per player per event. The registration fee for additional events is $18. The deadline to register for the skilled singles division and the “family” doubles events is 5 p.m. Friday, April 12, at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort tennis courts. Deadlines for other events, excluding junior and high school doubles events, is the Friday one week prior to the event.

Particularly for the high school doubles division, the event is open to all current high school students and the entry fee is waived. For the junior division, the registration fee per player is $23 for singles and $18 for doubles. The fee to compete in an additional singles event is $18 and $13 for an additional doubles event.

The deadline to register for junior events – both singles and doubles – and the high school doubles event is Friday, April 19 at 5 p.m. at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort tennis courts.

Registration forms are available at Goody’s Sporting Goods, Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort tennis courts, Hilton Guam Resort & Spa tennis courts and the Rick Ninete Tennis Center in Hagåtña. Additionally, participants may download forms or register online at www.tennisacademyguam.com. Participants receive a cap and T-shirt and complimentary admission to the tournament’s awards banquet.

For any inquiries, contact Cepeda at 988-7479.

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