Gootter Grand Slam March 29, 2009

The 4th Annual Gootter Grand Slam weekend will take place on March 28th and 29th, 2009. Established in 2005, the Steven M. Gootter Foundation has raised almost $1 million to fund sudden cardiac death research at the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center. The foundation was formed by the friends and family of Steve Gootter, a vibrant, athletic 42-year-old father of two who lost his life to sudden cardiac death on Feb. 10, 2005. Like many victims of sudden cardiac death, Gootter had no known history of heart disease and no previous health problems. Proceeds from the event go to the Steven M. Gootter Endowed Chair for the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death at U of A's Sarver Heart Center. Funding supports an ongoing, long-term, highly focused study of sudden cardiac death with the end goals being early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the disease.
The 2009 Gootter Grand Slam kicks off with the Super Gootter "Hybrid" Super Set Series #1 - Junior Tennis Tournament at 10am on Saturday, March 28th from 11am to 4:30pm at Randolph Tennis Center . This singles & doubles Level 3 tournament is a USTA sanctioned, one-day, non-elimination event. Winners and runner-ups of each age division will also get some hitting time with and be presented awards by special guest tennis pros Mats Wilander & Jimmy Arias at Randolph Tennis Center's Stadium Court on Sunday, March 29th (see below). Sunday, March 29th the Gootter Grand Slam jumps into action at 9am at Randolph Tennis Center with an exciting pro-celebrity doubles exhibition, as well as a singles pro exhibition match featuring Mats Wilander, former #1 World-ranked singles player and 8-time grand slam champion, and Jimmy Arias, a former top 5 World-ranked player and commentator for ESPN and the Tennis Channel. A lively doubles tennis tournament will follow the pro matches. Other attractions at the tennis center will include, a health/wellness fair, food and drink and live music. Limited player spots are available in the doubles tournament at $75 per person. Spectator Tickets are $25 per person.
Schedule of events for Sunday, March 29th
9:00 am Pros' clinic with top juniors; Wellness Fair begins
10:00 am Pro-Celebrity Doubles Exhibition
10:45 am: Pro Singles Exhibition with Mats Wilander and Jimmy Arias
12:00 pm. Doubles Tournament
2:45 pm Awards Presentations
Tickets to the 4th annual Gootter Grand Slam Tennis Tournament and Pro-Exhibition can be purchased at the Randolph Tennis Center, Racquet Shack, and various local tennis facilities, at the gate on March 29th, or by calling 520.615.6430. Tickets for the Gala Dinner can be purchased on the website or by calling 520.615.6430. For more information on the Gootter Foundation and Sudden Cardiac Death visit www.gootter.org.