The fourth-annual BNP Paribas Open Tri-Level Championships, a doubles competition between teams from United States Tennis Association (USTA) sections, will be held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, March 19-21, 2010, it was announced today by tournament director Steve Simon.

All 17 USTA sections are invited to send one team to compete in the event, which will be held during the final weekend of the BNP Paribas Open, March 8-21, 2010. The teams must be comprised of a minimum of 12 players (six men and six women), one doubles team per gender in the 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 ability levels, to a maximum of 24 players (12 men and 12 women). It will be up to the discretion of each individual USTA section as to how their team will be selected. Sections must give notice of their intention to participate by Monday, November 30, 2009.

Each doubles team will compete against the same ability and gender in separate compass draws. All matches will be the best of three sets with a Match Tiebreak being played in lieu of the 3rd set. Points will be awarded depending on the number of doubles teams in each compass draw, and the section that accumulates the highest total number of points will be crowned the BNP Paribas Open Tri-Level Champion, recognized on Stadium Court, and each individual player on the team will receive a product package from Fila. Individual awards will be presented to the champions and finalists in each ability and gender compass draw, and additional awards will be presented to the players of the sections with the three highest point totals.

In addition, each player will receive a gift from Fila and one complimentary ticket to the BNP Paribas Open for the night session on Thursday, March 18, day and night sessions on Friday, March 19, and day sessions on Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21. Special discounted rates will be available for any additional tickets a player may wish to purchase.

All rosters and entry fees ($125 per player) must be received by Sunday, January 31. All players must be current USTA members and have current computer generated NTRP ratings. For more information please contact Tom Fey, Director of Tennis, Indian Wells Tennis Garden, at 760-200-8200 ext. 4217, or tfey@iwtg.net.

About the BNP Paribas Open
The first major tennis event of the season on U.S. soil, the BNP Paribas Open features more than 300 of the world’s best men and women tennis players and last year more than 330,000 people attended the event. Tickets are available by logging onto www.bnpparibasopen.org, calling the Indian Wells box office, 800-999-1585 or 760-200-8000, or visiting the box office, 78-200 Miles Avenue, Indian Wells, CA 92210.

About BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas (www.bnpparibas.com) is a European leader in global banking and financial services and is one of the 3 strongest banks in the world according to Standard & Poor’s. The group is present in 85 countries, with more than 171,000 employees, including 131.000 in Europe. The group holds key positions in three major segments: Corporate and Investment Banking, Asset Management & Services and Retail Banking. Present throughout Europe in all of its business lines, the bank’s two domestic markets in retail banking are France and Italy. BNP Paribas also has a significant presence in the United States and strong positions in Asia and the emerging markets.

About BNP Paribas and Tennis
In 2008, BNP Paribas celebrated the 35th anniversary of its association with the tennis world. Since 1973, BNP Paribas has been actively involved in this sport, regularly increasing its support – both locally and internationally, for families, schools and the community.

Historically, BNP Paribas has had a special relationship with every facet of the tennis world: official global sponsor of Roland Garros for 35 years, sponsor of the Davis Cup since 2001, of the Fed Cup since 2005 and since the acquisition of BNL in 2006, the "Internazionali BNL d'Italia", as well as actively supporting numerous other international competitions (WTA Bank of the West Classic in California, the Monte Carlo Masters Series, BNP Paribas Strasbourg Women's Open, Grand Prix de Lyon, etc.). BNP Paribas also supports tennis locally in France, and is involved in more than 550 tournaments, including the BNP Paribas family trophy, various training programmes set up by the French Tennis Federation and Yannick Noah’s “Fête le Mur” association.