TOP tennis Stars join top entertainment celebrities to launch "usa tennis month" may 1 at Rockefeller Center

Andy Roddick, Daisy Fuentes, James Blake, Sister Hazel, Billie Jean King to Help Launch Free "USA Tennis Rock & Rally" Tennis and Music Festivals Nationwide During May

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 16, 2002 - The United States Tennis Association today announced that tennis stars Andy Roddick, James Blake and Ashley Harkleroad, along with TV personality Daisy Fuentes and rock quintet Sister Hazel will help kick off USA Tennis Month with "USA Tennis Rock & Rally," a free tennis and music festival served up during lunchtime May 1 at New York City's Rockefeller Center. U.S. Fed Cup Captain Billie Jean King and U.S. Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe will also be a part of the festivities.

Using the Rockefeller Center event as a launch, the USTA and its 17 regional sections, in conjunction with Community Tennis Associations (CTAs) and the National Recreation & Park Association (NRPA), will hold fun-filled "USA Tennis Rock & Rally" festivals nationwide throughout the month of May. People can find out about USA Tennis programs, "Rock & Rally" festivals and other activities in their communities by logging onto usta.com.

The "USA Tennis Rock & Rally" events will celebrate the outdoor tennis season and the USTA's USA Tennis programs, designed for everyone who wants to play. More than 80 markets nationwide have committed to hosting a "USA Tennis Rock & Rally" event.

The launch will feature on- and off-court activities for people of all ages and abilities, with games and prizes. Women's Entertainment Network (W.E.) "Style World" star Daisy Fuentes will host the event and Universal Records' rock quintet Sister Hazel will perform a free, 30-minute concert.

"Taking tennis to people is what the USTA is all about," said USTA President Merv Heller. "USA Tennis Month is our way of kicking off the outdoor tennis season and inviting new and returning players to get out and play."

"I'm thrilled to be a part of USA Tennis Month," said Roddick. "Tennis and music are two of my passions, so the 'Rock & Rally' festivals are a natural fit for me and other young players. It's an opportunity to learn tennis skills while having a great time listening to tunes."

"'USA Tennis Rock & Rally' is a great opportunity for people to try the game," said Blake, a Yonkers, N.Y., native. "I am really looking forward to being a part of the action at Rock Center, especially since it's in my hometown area."

"We are very excited to welcome everyone at the USTA, particularly tennis players Andy Roddick, James Blake and the legendary Billie Jean King," said Thomas A. Madden, Managing Director for Tishman Speyer Properties, the owners of Rockefeller Center. "With its large outdoor plaza, we cannot think of a better location than Rockefeller Center to kick-off USA Tennis Month. We hope to make Rockefeller Center a wonderful example to the other locations around the country that are participating in the 'USA Tennis Rock & Rally Festival.'"

Roddick, 19, burst onto the men's tennis scene in 2001 - winning the first three ATP singles titles of his career in Atlanta, Houston and Washington D.C. He recently competed for the United States in its Quarterfinal Davis Cup tie vs. Spain. In three previous Davis Cup appearances, he holds a 7-0 record for the U.S., marking the best start for a U.S. Davis Cupper in singles since Andre Agassi started 7-0 in 1988 and 1989.

Blake, 21, reached his first ATP singles final in Memphis earlier this year facing Davis Cup teammate Roddick. He also competed for the United States in its Davis Cup tie vs. Spain. Blake holds a 5-0 Davis Cup record (3-0 in singles), the best start for a U.S. Davis Cupper in singles and doubles combined since John McEnroe started 14-0 from 1978 to 1980.

Harkleroad, 16, made her WTA Tour debut at the 2001 Ericsson Open. Given singles and doubles wild cards in the 2001 US Open, she was the youngest player in the women's singles draw. Her junior career highlight was winning the junior Wimbledon doubles with partner Gisela Dulko of Argentina.

USA Tennis Month is a key component of the USA Tennis Plan for Growth, a five-year, $50 million commitment spearheaded by the USTA in partnership with the Tennis Industry Association to increase tennis participation in communities across America. The USA Tennis Plan for Growth and its extension, USA Tennis Plan for Growth II, is the most ambitious initiative ever proposed to promote and develop the growth of tennis in the United States.

Rockefeller Center is the site of numerous public exhibits and events, including last year's historic New York Post 200th Anniversary Photo Exhibition, the New York International Orchid Show and the Rockefeller Center Motorcycle Show. Each day an estimated 250,000 people walk through the Rockefeller Plaza complex, which is home to the most famous Christmas Tree in the world.

The United States Tennis Association owns and stages the US Open and selects the teams that represent the United States in Davis Cup, Fed Cup and the Olympic Games. The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States and is a not-for-profit organization with nearly 650,000 members. It invests all its resources to promote and develop the growth of tennis, from the grass roots to the professional levels. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.

For more information, contact:

* Seth Sylvan, USTA Director of Publicity, Community Tennis,

914-696-7088; sylvan@usta.com

* Alex Palombo, USTA Publicity Coordinator, Community Tennis,

914-697-2308; palombo@usta.com

* Michelle Martinez, USTA Communications Assistant, Community Tennis;

914-696-7202; martinez@usta.com