Soon after her three set victory in the first round of the Neighborhood Charter School Women's $25K Challenger, American Jenny Hopkins sat down with the school's students to talk about her life in and around tennis. Hopkins, from Leawood, KS, came back from down a set to defeat Austria's Sybille Bammer 3-6, 6-0, 6-1. She then spent 45 minutes answering questions from the students of the Neighborhood Charter School.
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| Jenny Hopkins w/ a student from the Neighborhood Charter School |
The 22 year old Hopkins talked about her early days in junior tennis and her hopes for the future now that she has joined the professional tour. The kids asked her about "being nervous on court" and "what she thinks about during a match." Many of the students attending the event had never seen a professional tennis match before.
Coming into the event Hopkins was ranked 211 in the world. She turned pro in 1999 and has won six USTA Pro Circuit and ITF Circuit events in her career.
Being played at the Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, GA, admission to the event is free but donations are being accepted to benefit the Neighborhood Charter School. The Neighborhood Charter School is an in-town elementary school in Grant Park that opened in the fall of 2002. The 98-year-old Atlanta school building was destroyed by fire in February following a full year of extensive remodeling by parents and volunteers. It housed the community’s 105 kindergarten through third grade students.
The event finals will be played on Sunday, March 30 at 1:00pm. Scores and each day's wrap up will be posted online throughout the event.
The USTA organizes, sponsors and administers the USTA Professional Circuit, the gateway to the US Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis professionals and a frequent battleground for established players. The 2003 circuit features nearly 100 events for men and women. Prize money at USTA Professional Circuit events range from $10,000 to $75,000, with more than $3 million in total purse. Players also earn valuable ATP and WTA tour ranking points.