USTA members will receive a 50 percent discount on all tickets to the 2008 Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc.’s $50,000 Pro Circuit Event in Pittsburgh Oct. 5-12. An international field of women tennis professionals, from those ranked in the top 100 in the world to talented teen-agers hoping to break into the pro game in a big way, will compete for prize money and ranking points at Oxford Athletic Club in suburban Wexford.

Bob Ruzanic, former chairman of the U.S. Davis Cup Committee, is tournament promoter. Sally Gibson (724-712-7450) is Tournament Director.

The entry field includes last year’s finalist Olga Puchkova of Russia and past Pittsburgh Pro Circuit champion Lilia Osterloh of Columbus Ohio. Vania King and Julia Ditty are the two top-ranked Americans in the field.

The Pittsburgh Challenger is best known as Maria Sharapova’s breakout tournament, when she won seven matches in seven days to advanced through the Qualifying Draw to reach her first pro final in 2002. She won Wimbledon 20 months later. This year tournament is filled with aspiring young talent, including five from the Pittsburgh area: Alison Riske, Michaela Kissell, Kellie Schmitt, Kristy Borza and Lauren Greco.

Oxford Athletic Club is located at 100 Village Club Drive, Wexford, PA 15090. Tel: (724) 933-1911

Teams interested in joining AMD’s fall Mixed Doubles Leagues should contact AMD coordinator Marilyn Miller by Sept. 27 at volleygirl@atlanticbb.net. A minimum of six players, three men and three women, are required to form a team but more players can be added later. The team matches consist of three doubles lines. The combined ratings of the paired players determine the level of play. Leagues available are 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0. Registration is through TennisLink and new players can be added until two weeks before the season ends.

Nominations for the 2008 AMD Annual Awards may be submitted until Oct. 15, 2008. Please send the name of the nominee and background information to tom@benic.net.

The 2007 winners, recognized last spring, were:

• Family of the Year: Barry and Beth Borza family, Beaver, Pa.
• Volunteer of the Year: Debbie Hazlett, administrator, AMD’s Competitive Training Center
• Community Tennis Association of the Year: Frick Park Clay Court Tennis Club, Pittsburgh, Pa.
• High School Coach of the Year: Chuck Taylor, Chartiers-Houston High School, Houston, Pa.
• College Coach of the Year: Joe Camillo, Duquesne University Women’s Team. Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Tournament Director of the Year: Jack Dorsey, Wheeling Oglebay Senior Open, Wheeling, W.Va.
• Commercial Organization of the Year: Club4Life, Monroeville, Pa.
• Non-profit Organization of the Year: Little Round Top Tennis Club, Punxsutawney, Pa.
• 2007 President’s Award: Bob O’Connor Tournament Committee, Pittsburgh CitiParks; Jane Famili, Tournament Director.

AMD junior and adult players who have distinguished themselves in national or international tennis events sanctioned by the USTA may receive up to $1,000 under a new AMD grant program designed to partially offset the cost of travel and participation. Entry forms are on the AMD website: www.amd.usta.com or interested applicants may email District President Tom Benic at tom@benic.net.

Deadline for entry is Nov. 1, 2008.

The AMD Grants and Scholarships Committee will base its decisions primarily on the caliber and number of high-level events a player entered and the success achieved. Other factors, such as success in previous years, may be considered.

AMD sent seven Adult League teams to the Middle States Sectional Championships Aug. 22-24 in Princeton, N.J. and just missed winning two division championships by virtue of a tie-breaker system. AMD's Men's 4.5 district champion team from Highland Park compiled a 4-1 record while the Men's 3.0 team from Johnstown was 3-1. Dom Costa captained the Highland Park team while Jon Zonin captained Johnstown. Also representing AMD were: Men's 4.0 -- Greensburg, Dan Rusbosin, captain; Men's 3.5 -- Greensburg, Fred Kaminsky, captain; Women's 4.5 -- Oxford, Kim Ford, captain; Women's 4.0 -- Oxford, Lori Ruffolo, captain; Women's 3.5 -- Peters Township, Lynlee Caliguiri, captain.