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The green grass courts of Wimbledon, the red clay of Roland Garros and the bright blue hard courts of Flushing Meadows may be the most spectacular locations in tennis.

But the pink sand of Horseshoe Beach is poised to become their equal - at least in the beach version of the sport.

Bermuda has become the first international venue to be officially sanctioned by Beach Tennis USA - the equivalent of the ATP tour.

The island will host its first major tournament in September - an event which is set to become a regular fixture on the sporting calendar.

But locals are already getting a taste of the sport - a cross between tennis and volleyball - during weekly sessions at Horseshoe.

Tourism entrepreneur Tony Brannon and Fairmont Southampton tennis pro Mark Cordeiro teamed up with Beach Tennis USA to bring the sport to Bermuda.

And they are inviting players of all levels to give it a try.

Cordeiro, who played in the Miami Beach Tennis tournament, last weekend, said he felt it was a sport where Bermuda's top players could excel.

"I played in the pro division with a guy from Aruba and we won one game and lost two, but we held our own pretty well.

"It's intense. It's all volleying and the net is six foot, so that really takes the power aspect out of it. There's a lot of slice volley style shots. It's a touch-game."

He said he hoped that the Saturday sessions at Horseshoe would generate interest in the game ahead of the big tournament in September as well as preparing some of Bermuda's players to face the world's best.

"We are trying to generate interest and have the event, all in the space of six months. It's a big task, but it's already attracting a lot of interest.

"All of the top players in Miami last weekend said they planned to come to Bermuda."

Brannon said the event was ideal for Bermuda.

"Aruba has been doing something similar for years - it's fun in the sand, music and tennis."

He said he expected a field of around 30 professionals from overseas to compete for the $2,500 top prize.

And he added that there would be a host of giveaways over the course of the weekend, September 19-21, which also features a Calypso concert on the beach, including four airline tickets to Bermuda for the best local teams.

The event is sponsored by Fairmont Southampton, which is offering a $199 double occupancy room rate for all players as well as Black Seal Rum, Brannon's Bermuda.Com internet site and Cobra Volleyball.

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