Tennis Commentator, Onetime Star Tracy Austin to Appear at Midland Classic
Spokesperson for Cardio Tennis to Highlight Dow Corning-Chamber Event
December 16, 2007
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By: Dave Rogers
Tracy Austin, tennis commentator, Cardio Tennis promoter.
"TRACY AUSTIN IN THE HOUSE" proclaims a sign at the Midland Community Tennis Center.
That says it all.
The two-time U.S.Open Champion and NBC/USA Network national television tennis analyst Tracy Austin will be the guest celebrity "in the house" for the 20th Anniversary of the Dow Corning Tennis Classic, February 3-10, hosted by the Midland Community Tennis Center.
The popular and knowledgeable television commentator will add an additional touch of glitter to the sparkling tournament, the only professional event in Michigan.
She is the national spokesperson for Cardio Tennis, the popular workout regime that is a fixture in Midland.
At age 16, Austin was the youngest player to win the U.S. Open in New York City in 1979. In 1980, she was ranked first in the world and set a new record as the youngest top ranked player in tennis history. From 1978 to 1983, she was ranked in the Top Ten and from 1980-81, she was ranked second.
In 1992, at age 29, Austin became the youngest inductee into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Currently, she is a tennis analyst for USA network and NBC-TV.
"Tracy Austin is an example of a gifted athlete who won major tournaments at a young age, suffered career-ending injury, and reinvented herself as a premiere television tennis analyst," said Mike Woody, executive director of the Tournament. "Hers is a story of perseverance and determination and we're honored to have her here."
The tournament committee has planned several events for the public to meet Tracy Austin, ask questions, and hear about her extraordinary life in and after tennis, he added.
Austin will keynote a special luncheon hosted by Vision TriCounty, a partnership of the Bay, Saginaw and Midland chambers of commerce. The event is scheduled Thursday, February 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Valley Plaza Resort.
Dow Corning is sponsoring the event, with Stephanie Burns, CEO, serving as host. Austin will present on her "Road To Success," about her tennis career and current success as a sports commentator.
Tickets for chamber members, members of the MCTC and corporate sponsors of the tournament are $40 or $375/table. Public tickets are $50. For Midland chamber members, the event will serve as the organization's Quarterly Membership Luncheon.
Austin will also be the celebrity host Thursday evening for the Feature Matches of the Dow Corning Tennis Classic at the MCTC, introducing players and energizing the crowd.
As a national spokesperson for Cardio Tennis, Austin will lead a Cardio Tennis Clinic & Luncheon on Friday, February 8th at the Midland Community Tennis Center from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. The event is limited to 100 MCTC members and guests. Tickets are $50 for members, $60 for the public.
Austin lives in Rolling Hills, California with her husband Scott and their three sons, Dylan Austin Holt, Brandon Scott Holt and Sean Williams Holt. She has hosted an annual pro-celebrity event for under-privileged children since 1978.
For more information on her appearance, contact Erin Mazurek or Mike Woody directors of the Dow Corning Tennis Classic, 989-631-6151. erin@midlandtennis.com or woody@midlandtennis.com.###
Dave Rogers
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Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read, respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City. (Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)
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