This weekend the San Diego Tennis Federation (SDTF) will play host to one of the largest GLBT tennis tournaments in the nation with the 19th annual San Diego Open (SDO). Nearly 250 players from across North America have already registered for the three-day tournament that will take place over the Fourth of July holiday weekend here in America’s Finest City.

“It’s probably in the top three as far as the size of the draws are concerned,” said Vincent Travaglione, SDO tournament co-director. “It’s definitely one of the most popular ones for sure because San Diego draws a lot of good people.”

Travaglione has been working with fellow co-director Ken Pomeroy and last year’s tournament director, Scott Williford, in an advisory role since January to make sure that this year’s tournament is once again a success. The tennis weekend will kick off with an opening night and registration party at Bacchus House on Friday, July 2, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Actual play will start on Saturday, July 3, at 8:00 a.m.

“We’re really lucky we have five tournament divisions,” Travaglione said. “The highest level is the open division players. I would put them right under amateur level competitors. The open division championship on Monday is when we are going to be raffling off the free ticket on Delta and that’s like the hallmark of the weekend, that level.”

Players are seeded into the five divisions based on experience and competitive level or play. In addition to the Open Division, there will also be A, B, C and D divisions offered at the SDO. The Open final is scheduled to take place at Morley Field on Monday, July 5, at 11:30 a.m., but the time may be shifted because of the matches leading up to the final on Monday morning.

One of the highlights of the weekend will be the tournament banquet held at the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park on Sunday, July 4. The sports museum will provide an appropriate backdrop for the tennis banquet and players will be able to enjoy the fireworks over downtown from the museum balcony.

“Most of the players will go to that banquet,” Travaglione said. “It’s included in the cost of the tournament. It’s a great space; it goes with the sports theme. There is going to be a buffet dinner and entertainment.”

Sponsors for the 2004 SDO include Delta Airlines, Rayco Tennis and the Acura Classic. According to Travaglione, the SDTF is still hoping to pick up more sponsors for the tournament. All of the proceeds from the tournament will be donated to a local GLBT charity.

“The budget is kind of tight right now, but we are definitely going to be donating an amount, but we didn’t want to commit to anyone because we don’t know how small or large that is going to be,” Travaglione explained. “We’re going to wait to see how the budget comes in, but certainly if the community would like to be a sponsor, we have the Tennis Federation website that they can be advertised on throughout the year. We are kind of waiting to see the bottom line before we decide who we are donating to.”

For more information about the SDTF, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to their website. The main site for the Open will be at the Balboa Tennis Club, located at 2221 Morley Field Dr. The first two days of the tournament will also utilize courts at the Barnes Tennis Center, located at 4490 W. Point Loma Blvd.; the Peninsula Tennis Club, located at 2525 Bacon St.; and the University of San Diego, located at 5998 Alcalá Park.