The San Diego Tennis Federation (SDTF) is hosting their 21st annual San Diego Open (SDO) tournament July 1-3.

The tournament is one of the largest and oldest tournaments on the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance (GLTA) circuit. More than 220 players from across the country are expected to sign up for the three-day tournament. The GLTA holds over 40 tournaments across the world each year, with more than 30 of them played in the U.S.

SDO spokesperson Romeo Matias said the SDO remains one of the top three GLTA tournaments in terms of the size and quality of its draw. As of last week, 195 have registered, with more than half of those residing outside San Diego.

“Although the GLTA has never done a thorough study to rank their tournaments, experience has taught us that we run a tight yet fun ship as compared to many of the other GLTA tournaments,” Matias said. “Our SDTF members are amongst the most active in terms of traveling to other GLTA tournaments. Their feedback tells us that, as compared to other GLTA tournaments they’ve experienced, our tournament is hard to beat.”

Matias said SDO’s entrants make up some of the most highly ranked and competitive players on the GLTA circuit.

“Players who do well at the SDO will more than likely be successful at the other GLTA tournaments,” he said.

The SDO will be used by some players this year as a tune-up event for tennis competition at the Gay Games in Chicago and Outgames in Montreal. The Gay Games takes place July 15-22 and the Outgames takes place July 26-Aug. 5.

“Although the Gay Games in Chicago and World Outgames in Montreal are a few weeks after our tournament, these events have had little if any effect on our draws,” Matias said.

The SDO began before the GLTA was first conceived in 1991. Jim Winters and Scott Williford founded the SDTF in 1982 and soon after began to hold rivalry tournaments with other gay clubs in California, one in Los Angeles and the other in San Francisco. Winters and Williford then spearheaded the creation of the SDO in 1985 once club membership increased.

The GLTA celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. It was founded in San Diego during the 1991 SDO. Williford was elected as the GLTA’s first commissioner, Matias said.

“In addition to helping the GLTA get off the ground, Scott has also been instrumental in keeping the SDTF flourishing all of these years, especially in his past roles as club president and San Diego Open tournament director,” he said.

The GLTA has set up a Champions Race that recognizes the top players in each division (advanced to beginner) based on their point standings at the end of the year.

Players gunning for points are seeded into the five divisions at the SDO based on experience and competitive level. The top division is the Open Division, for the highly advanced player, and then A (advanced), B (high intermediate), C (low intermediate) and D (novice) divisions. All matches will be single-elimination, best of three sets, with regular ad-scoring. There is also a consolation round for singles only, where pro-sets will be played.

Matches begin in the early morning hours on Saturday, July 1, and conclude on Monday, July 3, at 3:00 p.m.

A registration welcome party will kick off the weekend tournament on Friday, June 30, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Urban Grind, located at 3797 Park Blvd. in Hillcrest. Welcome packets will be distributed at that time, which will include draws, T-shirts, programs and other miscellaneous items donated by sponsors and/or other organizations. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served.

A banquet will take place on Sunday, July 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley, located at 950 Hotel Circle North.

Matias said that since Southern California has several GLTA tournaments, 2006 is the premiere year of the “So Cal Slam,” where players are rewarded for doing well at the SDO tournament and also at tournaments in Palm Springs and Los Angeles, in a set-up somewhat similar to the Grand Slam of professional tennis.

“Texas and Florida already had a similar concept in place, so it was just a matter of time before California joined in,” Matias said.

Sponsors of the 2006 SDO include Ray’s Tennis and the Kawesch Laser Center.

All of the proceeds from the tournament will be donated to a local GLBT-related organization, which will be chosen by an SDTF member vote. Proceeds will then be distributed at SDTF’s annual holiday party in December. Past recipients of the funds include Mama’s Kitchen and Youth Tennis San Diego.

The main site for the San Diego Open will be 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., and the Peninsula Tennis Club, located at 2525 Bacon St. The finals for all divisions will take place at the Balboa Tennis Club on July 3.

For more information about the SDTF or the San Diego Open, visit www.sdtf.org.