Taking place this weekend, the USTA National Campus is set to host the tennis portion of the 2018 Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games. Over 100 athletes will be in action in a total of 14 singles and four doubles draws. The draws are divided up into red, yellow, orange and green ball competitions.

The State Summer Games is the highest level of competition for Florida athletes who have qualified to represent their respective counties throughout the Sunshine State. Matches will get underway at noon on Friday and run through the evening. Action will pick back up Saturday morning starting at 9:00 a.m. with play wrapping up in the early afternoon.

Brittany Tagliareni, of Seminole County, is one of two athletes competing this weekend that has separately qualified for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games set to be held this summer in Seattle. Tagliareni, along with her mother, volunteered at the ACEing Autism clinics held at the USTA National Campus earlier this year.

For more information on the 2018 Special Olympics Florida State Games, click here.

In 2014, USTA Florida and the USTA Florida Section Foundation announced the landmark three-way agreement with Special Olympics Florida to provide more tennis play opportunities to athletes in Florida. The formal agreement has built on the existing support that USTA Florida and its charitable arm have provided to local Special Olympics programs by offering free 10 and Under Tennis workshops, grants, and other resources to providers that offer tennis programs to Special Olympics athletes.

Special Olympics Florida is part of an international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Special Olympics offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round training and competition in 30 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. The next Special Olympics Summer World Games, featuring tennis, is scheduled for 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.