BY KYLE MARIE McMAHON
The Cary Tennis Classic returned to Cary on August 10 and will continue through Saturday, August 17. Previously known as the Atlantic Tire Championship, this tennis tournament brings talent from the semi-pro circuit to Cary Tennis Park at 2727 Louis Stephens Drive. In the past, the Classic was only for male players, but this year, its 10th year, the tournament has added women’s brackets. The brackets for both men and women feature 32 singles players and 16 teams for doubles.
For the men, the tournament is a part of the men’s ATP Challenger Tour administered by the Association of Tennis Professionals, which mostly features up-and-coming players looking to make it to the next stage: the top-tier ATP Tour. Each stop on the Challenger Tour is assigned a level, which equates to the number of points a player can earn to qualify for the ATP Tour. The Cary Tennis Classic was recently elevated from level 75 to level 100, which means, in addition to more qualifying points, winners receive a higher payout—$133,250.
The women are associated with the IFT Women’s World Tennis Tour 100, the developmental circuit for the top-tier WTA Tour run by the Women’s Tennis Association. Like the male players, women earn points with each win that can be used to qualify for playing in the WTA Tour. The payout for the women’s bracket is $100,000.
The Cary Tennis Classic provides amazing entertainment for the entire family and is a great way to spend the day. Tennis fans will love watching the highly skilled play, and those new to the sport will get a crash course in how tennis works at the tournament levels. Attendees can expect nonstop tennis action during the week. Cary Tennis Park offers 32 championship courts, and although not all of them are utilized for tournament play, during the early rounds, spectators can walk the main strip and catch five games simultaneously. Most of the seating has backrests, including the stadium-style main court.
Single-day tickets range from $15–60, depending on the day and ticket package, and includes all-day admission. Social and VIP tickets include complimentary snacks and drinks, including alcohol after 5 p.m. Concession stands are available for standard ticket-holders, and a Gonza food truck will be on-site Wednesday–Friday evenings. Parking is free in the Green Hope Elementary School lot across the street.
The final rounds for both men and women, singles and doubles, will begin Thursday with the quarterfinals, followed by the semifinals Friday and finals on Saturday. Learn more about the tournament and the participants at carytennisclassic.com.
