2002 Ektelon USRA 35th
National Singles Championships
Downtown Houston YMCA: Houston, Texas
Memorial Day Weekend, May 22-27

preview | releases | drawsheets | finals & finishers

Media Guide
Event History
Recordbook

MEDIA ADVISORY! ... Contact the U.S. Racquetball Association Media/Public Relations Department for more details. Pre-event, call: 719-635-5396, ext. 126 -- After opening rounds, call: 713-659-8501 (media only). 

FAN ADVISORY! ... Links to online drawsheets are active and will be updated approximately 2-3 times daily -- *not* following each round, in each division. Please be aware that -- if you are following the advance of a given individual (whose marathon, or delayed, match may still be in progress when an update is made) -- results may not appear immediately following a scheduled match time ... or might not appear until the next day, particularly with later evening matches.

player information
What's in Store
Opening Rounds
Travel & Lodging
Qualifiers & Certifications
Seeding at National Events

opening rounds

Thursday — “Sponsor Trials” — Hyatt Regency. Test your skills in an “Olympic-style” line-up of physical and mental challenges! Enjoy a fun-filled night of games and dancing, along with munchies and drinks, sponsored by Ektelon and the USRA.

Friday — Casino Night — Hyatt Regency. Each player will receive a small “bank” to spend on Blackjack, Craps, Roulette and the One-armed Bandits! At the close of the evening, you’ll be able to bid on a selection of grand prizes. Sponsored by Penn.

Saturday — ANNIVERSARY GALA — The Hyatt Grand Ballroom will host an elegant evening of celebration, entertainment and awards. For the 20th year extravanganza, join your fellow players in recognizing Hall of Fame inductees, Athletes of the Year, and other honorees. Semi-formal dress is required — no jeans or racquetball attire will be permitted!

Sunday — U.S. Team Qualifying OPEN Finals. Keep your afternoon and early evening free to watch the Men’s and Women’s Open Finals — a day before everyone else's — at the YMCA.

Sunday — Later on, try 'Singing in Houston' — with your best karaoke tunes at the Hyatt’s Back Room Bar.

Monday  — All remaining division finals will be played throughout the day (with the exception of the U.S. Team Qualifying OPEN division, played on Sunday).

And all week long ... Enjoy downtown nightlife, at over 100 new restaurants and nightclubs — all within walking distance of the Hyatt.

Skill Division Certification: Skill level entrants (to A, B, C, D divisions) must • be AmPRO certified at that level, OR • have played in the same division at the mandatory regional qualifier, OR • be approved by the state director or representative as being legitimately competitive in the entered skill division at the national level. Tournament directors will use these benchmarks to determine eligibility for skill competition, and reserve the right to re-classify or disqualify players when/if they are improperly placed. NOTE: Players in Age+Skill must meet the same criteria for corresponding skill levels in “Age+A/B” & “Age+C/D” divisions. 

Eligibility: To be eligible to compete in any USRA sanctioned event, a player may not have earned in excess of $50,000 in cumulative, total prize monies per season [as of August 1, annually], as a direct result of competing in any professional tournament(s) so deemed by the USRA Board of Directors.

Ground Transportation: Bus, shuttle, taxi and limousine services are available from both Houston airports (you must make your own arrangements on arrival). Pricing varies by airport and service (between $15.00 - $40.00). Hertz is the event’s offical car rental sponsor — make your reservations by calling 800-654-2240 and referencing meeting #02RD 0002 for your special rate. 

Lodging: Hyatt Regency Houston, 1200 Louisiana (1 block from YMCA). Rate: $87.00 per night for up to four guests per room. For reservations, call 713/654-1234 and mention National Singles.