USPTA’s Little Tennis® will be linked with a series of USTA events under the umbrella of "QuickStart Tennis Playing Formats." The result of the link is that USPTA professionals and others have an outlet for their young students supported nationally and regionally by interesting, fun playing events.

"By supporting children’s programs like Little Tennis, this industry is laying the foundation for the next tennis boom," said USPTA CEO Tim Heckler. "We are showing children how to have fun on the tennis court while they progress from basic motor skills to the tennis skills they will employ throughout their lives."

Children as young as 3 are taught basic motor skills in a fun tennis environment through Little Tennis. Older children develop more sophisticated movement and ball striking skills, learning how to rally with a coach or parent and then one another.

Those basic rallying skills serve children well as they transition to the tennis industry's newest program for children, "QuickStart Tennis Playing Formats."

This will include a series of fun events, such as non-sanctioned tournaments and USA Junior Team Tennis, as well as sanctioned tournaments in the 8-and-under and 10-and-under age ranges.