2009 “Little Mo” Sites Announced

   For Sectionals, Regionals, and Nationals

           The "Road to the 'Little Mo' Nationals" is presented by

                                        Tennis LMS
                            (www.tennislms.com)

Dallas…The Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation has selected the following sites to host a “Little Mo” sectional tournament on the “Road to the 12^th annual Little Mo Nationals”.

Regionals          Site                                                              Date

South    

Arlington Tennis Center                                                        May 23 - 25, 2009

in Arlington, TX                           

(Northern, Missouri Valley, Texas, Intermountain)

North  

Homewood-Flossmoor Racquet Club                                   July 10 - 12, 2009
in Homewood, IL     

 (New England, Eastern, Middle States, Midwest)

West                                                                          

California Tennis Club in San Francisco,  CA                         July 3 - 5, 2009               

 (Southwest, Pacific Northwest, N.Cal, S. Cal, Hawaii-Pacific)

 East 

Sandy Springs Tennis Center                                            August 14 - 16, 2009                        

in Atlanta, GA                             

(Mid-Atlantic, Southern, Florida, Caribbean)

“Little Mo” Nationals 

Austin Tennis Academy in Austin, TX                             October 17 - 19, 2009

"Little Mo" International Open                               December 9 - 13, 2009

TennisLMS Institute (University of South Florida in Tampa, FL)

The “Little Mo” is a program of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation which furthers junior tennis development for boys and girls 8, 9, 10, 11 & under.  The “Little Mo” began in 1976 for Dallas players and then expanded to include all players from Texas.  In 1998, the “Little Mo” expanded to a national level and the “Road to the Little Mo Nationals” was created.  The  “Little Mo” is a nationwide, year-long circuit of fun, competitive tournaments culminating in a national champion being crowned in each age division.  The “Little Mo” tournaments offer an opportunity for the younger player to compete against others who are the same age at the sectional, regional and national level.

The “Road” begins this spring with a “Little Mo” Sectional tournament held in each of the seventeen sections for boys and girls.  After the Sectional tournaments have been completed, the eight (8) quarterfinalists from each age division will advance to the “Little Mo” Regionals in the summer.  There are four regional “Little Mo” tournament sites:  Atlanta, Georgia (East); Dallas, Texas (South); San Francisco, California (West); and Homewood, Illinois (North).

After the completion of the Regional “Little Mo” tournaments, the four (4) semifinalists from each age division will advance to the prestigious “Little Mo” Nationals.  The “Little Mo” Nationals will have a prestigious draw of 16 players in each age division and the winner will be crowned “Little Mo” National Champion.  The “Little Mo” Nationals is the only event in the country which offers the opportunity for a youngster to become a National Champion in Boys & Girls 8, 9, 10, 11 & under.

The "Little Mo" expanded to an international level in December of 2006 with the 1st annual "Little Mo" International Open.  This event is open to all players worldwide (including the USA).  The top four players in each age division (Boys and Girls 8, 9, 10, 11) from the International qualifier over three days (Wednesday/Thursday/Friday) will advance to play the top four players from the "Little Mo" Nationals over the weekend (Saturday/Sunday) to determine the International "Little Mo" Champion. 

The popular “Little Mo” tournament, in its 33rd year in Texas, is named in memory of its tennis champion namesake, Maureen Connolly, who was known as “Little Mo”.  In 1953, she was the first woman to capture the elusive Grand Slam by winning the Australian Championships, French Championships, Wimbledon, and U.S. Championships in the same calendar year.  She was only eighteen years old when she accomplished that magnificent feat.  From that time on, Maureen was known as the incomparable “Little Mo”.  In July 1954, “Little Mo” injured her leg in a horseback riding accident which ended her tennis career.

Although her tournament career was over, Maureen continued to promote her beloved game and in 1968, she joined her dear friend, Mrs. Frank A. Jeffett (Nancy) to co-found the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation.  Unfortunately, her tragic death of cancer occurred six months later on the eve of Wimbledon at 34 years of age.

Today, the foundation continues to benefit countless numbers of boys and girls throughout the country and the world.  TennisLMS is the presenting sponsor for the "Road to the 'Little Mo' Nationals".  Other sponsors are Smackers (the "Official Lip Balm") and Balle de Match .

For information on the “Little Mo” circuit, contact Carol Weyman – "Little Mo" Tournament Chairman and Executive Vice-President of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation.    (214) 352-7978 or email: Cartennis@aol.com