The governing body of men’s professional tennis, the Association of Tennis Professions (ATP), announced the debut of the Arizona Tennis Classic in the spring of 2019. The inaugural tournament will be hosted at The Phoenix Country Club, running from March 11-17, 2019, taking place in both day and evening sessions. The first Arizona Tennis Classic is expected to draw a select group of world-class tennis players, all competing in a 48 Player Singles draw and a 16 Team Doubles draw. This year’s tournament is anchored on the calendar between the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, and the Miami Open, ensuring a strong player field turnout in Phoenix. The Arizona Tennis Classic is a not-for-profit event benefiting Phoenix Children’s Hospital. General admission tickets are $20 during the week and $30 over the weekend.
“We’re so proud to be bringing this level of competitive tennis to the Valley,” says Phoenix-native and former ATP Tour pro Jonathan Levine, who is at the helm of the Arizona Tennis Classic’s inaugural run.
Since its inception in 1978, competition on the ATP Challenger Tour has been intense, with players fighting for critical ATP Rankings points and prize money. These tournaments give fans the excitement of watching world-class tennis in a more intimate atmosphere, and by providing opportunities for emerging stars to develop their talents, it ensures the continued success and growth of professional tennis.
“Phoenix has long been a talent hub for tennis, and the ATP Challenger Tour is absolutely thrilled to be expanding to a new market. It is going to be really exciting. This tournament is a great addition to the tour and we are eager to see them grow and develop in the coming years,” says Joanna Langhorne, Challenger Director.
The ATP Challenger Tour has been the springboard to fame for the sport’s most accomplished stars, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick. Every player launches their career at this level, with the goal of rising up the ATP Rankings, competing on the ATP Tour and in Grand Slam tournaments.
