Tennis Great Martina Navratilova Has Got A Racket For You

I know, I know, just couldn't resist the bad pun - it's Thursday May 1st, International Terribly Awkward Pun Day, so... This morning we were visited by Martina Navratilova, who some call one of the greatest athletes of all time ( and what makes it such a compliment is that rarely do people say the word female before the word athlete ). She talked to John about her rise in the tennis world, her rivalry with Chris Evert & how this month is Tennis Month, and she's out plugging the heck out of the sport that gave her her start.

USTA BLOCK PARTY/TENNIS MONTH INFORMATION
Nearly a dozen events in the tri-state area including:
5/3 Bey Lea Tennis Center in Toms River, NJ
5/4 – Newark Bears Baseball Stadium in Newark
5/10 – Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows
www.TennisMonth.com

INTERVIEW VIDEO & MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

TENNIS BLOCK PARTIES - - A TENNIS FESTIVAL IN YOUR BACKYARD
The Tennis Block Parties are a series of grassroots events designed to highlight the game of tennis in a fun and interactive way. Tennis is a true community sport and the “Block Parties” program during National Tennis month demonstrate how accessible the sport is to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds

More than 200 Tennis Block Parties will take place nationwide at tennis centers and public parks throughout the month of May in celebration of the tenth year of Tennis Month.

Elements of the USTA Block Parties include: games, contests, instruction and the USTA’s new QuickStart initiative that makes learning tennis easier for kids.

For more information or to find a Block Party near you visit www.TennisMonth.com

QUICKSTART TENNIS
The QuickStart Tennis format provides a way to bring kids 10 and under into the game by utilizing equipment, court dimensions, and scoring that is tailored to their age and size – will be broken down into: 8 & under; 10 & under.

Takes the approach of other youth sports, bringing the game “down to the size” of the children playing it. No longer are they utilizing equipment that is unwieldy, balls that bounce too high or fast, and playing on a court that they can’t maneuver around. This enables kids to have a fun experience the first time on the court, and actually start playing and rallying immediately.

Martina Navratilova participated in a Quickstart Tennis Demonstration earlier this year. For more information visit: www.QuickStartTennis.com

TENNIS = HEALTHY LIVING
· A Sport with Heart: Playing tennis on a regular basis is a good way to get your exercise by using all of your muscles. Playing tennis can even help one lower their blood pressure, as well as reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke. The Cleveland Clinic, the No. 1 heart care facility in the nation (U.S. News & World Report survey), touts tennis as “an ideal sport for a healthy heart.”

· The Sport of a Lifetime: Tennis is a sport that you can play your entire life so get kids started young. More than 70% of tennis is played on public courts and the USTA offers a wide variety of programs for people of all ages and abilities. Men who start playing tennis in their youth have a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and heart attack compared to those who didn't play tennis

· Burn Calories: According to Consumer Reports (January 2005), tennis ranks among the top five activities for the most calories burned per workout. While playing just a half hour of singles tennis, a 140-lb. person will burn 254 calories and a 200-lb. person will burn 364 calories.

· Lower Blood Pressure: Playing tennis on a regular basis is a good way to get your exercise by using all of your muscles. Playing tennis can even help one lower their blood pressure, as well as reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke. The Cleveland Clinic, the No. 1 heart care facility in the nation (U.S. News & World Report survey), touts tennis as “an ideal sport for a healthy heart.”