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The Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation has selected the following tournament sites for the 15th annual "Road to the Little Mo Nationals" circuit. The "Little Mo" is the ultimate kids challenge for players from the USA who are 11 & under. Players play their own birth year: 8s play 8s, 9s play 9s, 10s play 10s, and 11s play 11s. All matches will be played on full court with traditional yellow ball.

The Little Mo Nationals will take place October 19 - 22 at the Austin Tennis Academy in Austin, Texas.

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, and 11 & under. (Over 1,500 youngsters participate nationwide each year.)

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 players to compete against others who are the same age at the sectional, regional and national level. Players will be receiving points at the sectional, regional and national level for their results and will be rewarded with prizes such as iPads and iPods. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the "Road to the Little Mo Nationals" circuit.

The circuit begins this spring with "Little Mo" sectional tournaments held in 17 cities throughout the nation for boys and girls. After the sectionals have been completed, the eight quarterfinalists from each age division will advance to the "Little Mo" regionals in the summer. There are four regional "Little Mo" tournament sites: Club Med Sandpiper in Port St. Lucie, Florida (East); Arlington Tennis Center in Arlington, Texas (South); Gold River Racquet Club in Sacramento, California (West), and the Homewood-Flossmoor Racquet Club in Homewood, Illinois (North).

After the completion of the regional "Little Mo" tournaments, the four semifinalists from each age division will advance to the prestigious "Little Mo" Nationals in Austin, Texas from October 19-22, 2012. 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 nationals features the top 128 youngsters who are 11 & under in the United States - the future of American tennis. The "Little Mo" Nationals is the only event in the country which offers the opportunity for boys and girls to become national champions in the 8, 9, 10, and 11 & under divisions.

The popular "Little Mo" tournament is named in memory of tennis champion 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 Championship, French Championship, Wimbledon, and U.S. Championship in the same calendar year. She was only 18 years old when she accomplished that magnificent feat. She remains the youngest player and the only American woman to ever win the Grand Slam, which has been achieved by only five players in the history of tennis. In July 1954, "Little Mo" injured her leg in a horseback riding accident which ended her tennis career.

However, Maureen continued to promote her beloved game of tennis and in 1968 joined her dear friend, Mrs. Frank A. Jeffett (Nancy), to co-found the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation. Unfortunately, her tragic death to cancer occurred six months later on the eve of Wimbledon in 1969. She was 34 years of age. Mrs. Jeffett continues to serve as chairman emeritus together with Cindy Brinker Simmons, president, Brenda Brinker Bottum, vice president, Elizabeth Jeffett, vice president, Carol Weyman, executive vice president, and a capable advisory board.

In 1992, Andy Roddick won the "Little Mo" Nationals when he was 10 years old and became the U.S. Open men's singles champion in 2003. Andy has continued to "give back" to the foundation over the years. Other former "Little Mo" champions who are rising in the pro ranks are Ryan Harrison, Donald Young and Denis Kudla.

For information on the "Little Mo" circuit, visit their website at www.mcbtennis.org. You can contact Carol Weyman - Tournament Chairman - at (214) 754-7065 or by email at [email protected].

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