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By Lauren Lynch

(February 28, 2011) Tennis is turning Presidential. We all know that Obama has held some tennis events at the white house and his daughter are players of the game. However the First Lady Michelle Obama is also getting involved with
LetsMove.gov.

She teamed up with the likes of the USTA's ambassadors Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf for the "Let's Move" campaign whose intiative is based on fighting a growing problem in the U.S.- childhood obesity.

Kurt Kamperman, USTA chief executive, said, “Every kid is at risk to be sedentary. There’s so much you can do that’s passive now that wasn’t the case 20 years ago.”

"Let's Move" hopes to encourage children to eat a healthy diet and excercise at least 60 minutes a day. Tennis comes in as the USTA is forwarding the 10 and Under tennis program to come to life with smaller rackets, different balls more appropiate for children, and minimizing the court so the game is more playable and accessible. They will provide over 3,000 courts in the USA to suite younger tennis programs.

These smaller courts with blended lines will be showcased at the BNP Partibas Showdown on Monday that has favorite legends and rivals John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Andre Agassi, and Pete Sampras. Prior to the showdown, children from the New York Junior Tennis League will take to the 60-foot blended line court.

Jon Vegosen, USTA Chairman of the Board and President, said. “To have players like Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, and Ivan Lendl competing on a court with blended lines is a huge step for the sport of tennis and a great way to showcase 10 and Under Tennis to the world.”

The public service announcement with Michelle and the American's favorite tennis couple will be released Monday night during ESPN’s telecast of the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden.

 "I got involved to incorporate my passions, education and tennis," Andre Agassi told Tennis Now and added that Michelle Obama is an, "Engaging, beautiful lady."

 

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