Video: Amateur Tennis Fan Competes Against the Pros to Kick Off US Open

NEW YORK, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Valspar Corporation, a global leader in the paints and coatings industry, held the final round of its Paint Performance Challenge yesterday during the Arthur Ashe Kids' Day Stadium Show that kicks off the US Open. Michael Velasco of Santa Cruz, California, hit 18 targets during the final skills challenge, beating out eight other amateur fans to compete against Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Daniela Hantuchova.

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A major corporate sponsor of The US Open and the US Open Series, the centerpiece of Valspar's sponsorship is the "Valspar Paint Performance Challenge," a full summer-long tennis skills competition held in nine cities during US Open Series events. Tennis enthusiasts got to test their hitting accuracy through a series of on-court targets and had 60 seconds to hit as many targets as possible - 30 seconds for forehand shots and 30 seconds for backhand. The winners of each Challenge were flown to New York to compete in a national playoff for the opportunity to play against the best tennis professionals in the world.

"Today is a day that I'll never forget," said Michael Velasco, winner of the Valspar Paint Performance Challenge. "Competing against Roger Federer, the number one ranked tennis player in the world, and others, was a tremendous experience and I hope Valspar holds this Challenge every year."

Also at the US Open this year, visitors to Valspar's tent can sign up for the Ultimate Match Makeover to win a trip to the 2008 US Open while a group of interior designers "make-over" a room of the winner's choice. Consumers can also sign up online at http://www.valspartennis.com/ for a chance to win the makeover.

Since 1806, Valspar, a global leader in the paint and coatings industry, has been dedicated to bringing customers the latest innovations, the finest quality, and the best customer service. The Valspar Corporation aims to make the entire paint process - from inspiration to application - easier for consumers. Valspar offers premium-quality interior and exterior paints that blend beauty and durability in a palette of more than 3,000 colors, the largest color selection currently available. For more information on Valspar Corporation , visit http://www.valsparglobal.com/.