SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- For some, the ideal tennis destination is the red clay of Roland Garros; for others, it's the green grass of Wimbledon or a late summer's night match at the U.S. Open. But for those who prefer something a little more private, the ideal—and most idyllic—tennis destination is Necker Island. This year, Premier Tennis Travel and Necker Island will host the inaugural 2012 Necker Cup from December 9–13 on Sir Richard Branson's exclusive Virgin Island retreat. It promises to be the world's most exclusive Pro-Am event. (And we have to mention, of course, that XOJET offers fixed-rate prices for private jet travel to the Caribbean.)

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Mixing business, pleasure and sport, this deluxe inaugural event offers guests an all-inclusive five-day-and-four-night stay in one of the most dazzlingly beautiful locales in the world. Premier Tennis Travel creates travel packages to the world's top tennis tournaments—the Australian Open, Sony Open, BNP Paribas Open, you name it—but they have truly outdone themselves this time.

The main event of the week is the tournament itself, in which eight ATP/WTA Tour players will be paired up with 10 amateur teams of all levels consisting of one or two players. The stellar roster includes some the world's greatest current and former international tennis stars, including five-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, John McEnroe, German silver medalist Tommy Haas, French phenom Cedric Pioline, Aussie Mark Philippoussis (nicknamed "the Scud," after the Scud missile), former #1 men doubles player Mark Knowles, and reigning U.S. Open champions Bob and Mike Bryan. If all this sounds daunting, not to worry, there's a handicapped scoring format to even the playing field for all participants.

For those interested in improving their game, pros Wayne Bryan and Murphy Jensen will be offering on-court instruction as part of the five-day Rosewood Little Dix Bay Legends Tennis Camp, which, knowing Jensen, will be both challenging and  hilarious. Is there any chance of a shoot out at Necker Island between the Jensen brothers and the Bryan brothers? Wait and see.

Should your elbow and/or ego begin to feel a little sore on the court, you could certainly take a break to indulge in any of the island's numerous offerings, from paddle boarding, kite boarding and wake boarding to Pilates, sailing, snorkeling and massage therapy. Or you could simply sit on the white sand beach and watch those picture-perfect blue waves. That's what we call a win-win situation, even if you should lose set, game and match point. And, of course, let's not forget the 60-person staff who will be catering to their guests' every need, on and off the court.

Finally, after a long, hard day of volleying with the world's greatest players on the world's most spectacular island, each evening will feature a "unique cocktail experience." (One can only imagine what a drink might include when Richard Branson calls it "unique.") On December 12, the last night of the event will bring a healthy dose of Branson's wry humor at the "End of the World" awards dinner, party and auction at Rosewood Little Dix Bay.

As conceived by Premier Tennis Travel, the Necker Cup and its five-day, four-night event is truly a dream come true for all tennis fans, from aficionados to absolute beginners. Even better, a portion of the event profits and 100% of all donations from the last night's live and silent auction will benefit Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, as well as the National Tennis Foundation and other ATP and WTA player charities. It's worth noting that one of the tennis stars who'll be attending, Novak Djokovic, was just named a UNICEF Ambassador for Serbia, proving a heart to match his talent.  If you're interested in supporting the charities that will benefit from the auction, you can bid on some of the coolest tennis experiences, getaways and memorabilia and more: ibidmobile.net/vu/auction/.

Naturally, this being a Richard Branson affair, there will be a Virgin Unite Leadership Retreat  at Temple House during the Necker Cup with guest speakers Jose Maria Figueres, the former president of Costa Rica, and Sylvia Earle, oceanographer, aquanaut and author. The retreat might not improve your slice, but will certainly expand your grasp of global awareness and initiatives.

Asked what he's most excited about, Premier Tennis Travel President Trevor Short said: "Personally, my favorite part of this event would have to be the setting. I've had the opportunity to visit Necker Island a couple times, and it's truly amazing. I'm also very excited about our leadership retreat. We'll have discussions with some of the brightest minds in the world, and I'm anxious to see the interaction between the pros, Richard and our guest speakers."

For more information, contact Premier Tennis Travel at 800-376-0975 or info@premiertennistravel.com for further details about the Necker Cup or any of their one-of-a-kind offerings. But we strongly recommend making your plans as soon as possible, because to say the first annual Necker Cup promises fun and a good time for all will undoubtedly prove one of the greatest understatements of 2012.

Media Contact:  Amanda Schuon XOJET, 310-550-7200, amanda@tbtpr.com

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SOURCE XOJET