NEW YORK (August 8, 2022) – New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) is proud to announce that it will join forces with Demand IX and Festival of New York for the 2022 NYJTL Bronx Open. This year’s $60K women’s professional tournament is from August 15-21, 2022, and will feature a main draw with 32 singles players plus a 16-team doubles’, and a 32-player qualifying event.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which protects against discrimination on the basis of sex from any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Athletics are considered an integral part of an institution’s education program, and are therefore covered by this law. The NYJTL Bronx Open is excited to join the national Demand IX campaign and bring premiere women’s tennis to the New York City community. Demand Title IX and NYJTL are dedicated to leveling the playing field for all athletes, and this professional women’s tournament exemplifies the progress made in the past 50 years.
“We are thrilled that NYJTL signed on early to amplify the tremendous role sports plays in developing professional opportunities for women athletes through the NYJTL Bronx Open,” says Deborah Larkin, former CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation and current member of the Board of Directors at NYJTL. “Through this tournament and the partnership with Demand IX, thousands of girls and boys in the NYJTL programs will see and learn how Title IX can support their dreams both on and off the court.”
Additionally, the NYJTL Bronx Open has partnered with the Festival of New York (FNY), which is a city-wide movement that highlights New York as a resilient, inclusive, dynamic city through the pandemic and beyond. FNY is a coalition of more than 300 organizations across the five boroughs and all sectors from arts and culture to education, such as Lincoln Center, ABC7, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, coming together to showcase the resilience of New Yorkers through a difficult time in the city’s history.
“In creating this event, and in partnering with these strong organizations, our hope is to inspire the next generation and showcase international excellence up close and free of charge, while building community through our wonderful and positive sport,” says Joe Ceriello, NYJTL Bronx Open Tournament Director.
This year, the NYJTL Bronx Open will be held at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning. NYJTL hosted a professional tournament for decades at this site, but has briefly paused since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s tournament promises to bring fierce competition and meaningful community engagement at no-cost to viewers. NYJTL is excited to join forces with the FNY to excite the community and find resilience through tennis in the post-pandemic landscape.
NYJTL’s partnerships with Demand IX and FNY hope to elevate the greater messages behind bringing world-class women’s professional tennis to the Bronx and beyond as a medium for exemplifying the excellence of New York and the communities that the city represents.
Get Involved
The 2022 NYJTL Bronx Open will take place at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning. With access to 20 tennis courts and two additional stadium courts with permanent seating for more than 800 spectators, the Victor Kiam Stadium and the Pershing Square Stadium offer a courtside view of the world to the community, creating an unmatched up-close and intimate tennis viewing experience. In addition, the Cary Leeds Center will serve as a practice court facility for the US Open and will host the US Open Junior Qualifying tournament.
Are you looking for ways to get involved? Click on the links below to:
About NYJTL:
The mission of New York Junior Tennis & Learning is to develop the character of young people through tennis and education for a lifetime of success on and off the court. Since 1971, NYJTL has changed lives through tennis, education, healthy living, and character development programs. Today, it is the largest youth tennis and education non-profit in the nation, reaching more than 85,000 K-12 New York City youth.
NYJTL provides after school programming in approximately 30 schools and community tennis programming at approximately 40 sites throughout New York City in the summer months and at additional sites that operate during the school year. In addition, NYJTL designed, funded (with NYC), built and operates the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning, at which it provides free and commercial tennis programming year-round as well as life skills, character development and healthy living lessons. All NYJTL community tennis and after school programs are offered at no cost to its participants.
Contact: Joe Ceriello
Chief Marketing & Development Officer
jceriello@nyjtl.org
(917) 693-6672
About Demand IX:
Demand IX is a national campaign supported by more than 105 partner organizations who are committed to fairness in education through the 50 year old law protecting rights called Title IX. Demand IX is a campaign to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Title IX and to support ongoing efforts for strong Title IX protections and enforcement. The purpose of the campaign is to coordinate efforts to galvanize the impact of individual Title IX Anniversary projects into a one aspirational campaign that amplifies Title IX efforts and provides opportunities for public participation.
For more information: https://nwlc.org/demand-ix/
About Festival of New York:
Festival of New York is a citywide collaborative movement featuring 300+ diverse organizations across all sectors spanning from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2022. Together, we’ll rise from one of the most difficult periods as we realize a kinder, more equitable, and more inclusive future for our city. With live events spanning all sectors, the Festival offers everyone the opportunity to grow, connect, and give back, all while celebrating everything that makes our city the place to be.
Contact:
Kyle Athayde
Associate Director, New Initiatives
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
kathayde@lincolncenter.org