Pro tennis returns to Memphis in 2026 as WTA announces Memphis Classic tournament
Jonah Dylan | Memphis Commercial Appeal
Professional tennis is coming back to Memphis.
The WTA announced March 2 that the Memphis Classic will be from July 25-Aug. 2 at the Leftwich Tennis Center. The tournament will include a 32-player singles draw, and players will earn WTA rankings points and prize money.
"This is a major win for our city," Memphis Mayor Paul Young said at a press conference at Leftwich to formally announce the event. "It reflects the investment that we've made in Leftwich Tennis Center, the first-of-its-class facility, one that our residents deserve. When we invest in our assets, we know that opportunities follow."
The deal is for a "multi-year" agreement, Young said, ensuring that the tournament will continue beyond 2026.
Leftwich underwent a major renovation project before it reopened in 2023. It hosts the University of Memphis' tennis teams and has hosted events like the American Conference tennis championship. It's also open for the public and has both indoor and outdoor courts.
The tournament has already secured national sponsorship and hopes to attract more sponsors ahead of the event, according to a news release. The field for the tournament will be announced four weeks before the event, but will include some of the top pro tennis players in the world.
"That competition will be broadcast around the country, around the world," Memphis Classic tournament director Kyle Ross said. "We're going to beam Memphis and Leftwich out there and it's going to put a major spotlight on what this city and this facility can do."
The WTA has different tiers for its tournaments, ranging from 250 to Grand Slams (2,000). The number relates to the amount of points someone earns for winning the tournament.
"This is a real opportunity to energize our entire community and show every young person what excellence looks like," Tennis Memphis CEO John Borden said. "... demonstrated by the best athletes in the world delivering exciting moments and competition that only tennis and sports can deliver."