SARASOTA (SNN-TV) – The Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open returns to the Suncoast this Saturday, with play extending all the way through Sunday, April 16th.
The professional tennis tournament has been hosted in Sarasota since 2009. This year marks the second year the event is being held under new ownership. The new owners represent some of the most successful tennis event organizers in the world and last year, more than 10,000 people attended the week-long event.
The annual event is played on the outdoor green clay courts of Payne Park and is part of the ATP Challenger Tour. With a huge economic impact, the tournament also brings top-tier tennis talent to the area, with players flocking to Sarasota from around the world.
The Open is also growing in its charitable contributions through the “Tennis Ball”, the event’s concluding gala. The gala will be held at Michael’s On East on Friday, April 14th. Proceeds from the event will stay local and go to the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota and Desoto Counties and the USTA Foundation.
One of the co-owners, Remington Reynolds, becomes elated when taking about the future and growth of the Sarasota Open.
“I think we’ve found the best venue in downtown Sarasota because the parking is fantastic. We’ve got a long-term vision to really grow this event into a much larger event, possibly put a stadium on-site here…it’s to be determined. You know, [we’ve] basically doubled the size of the tournament this year in terms of sponsorship. I’d say we’re about 25% bigger from a ticketing standpoint. So, we’re really excited and there’s going to be some great tennis this weekend.” – Remington Reynolds
The Open begins this Saturday at Payne Park with the Pro-Am and Youth Clinic, with tournament play beginning on Sunday with singles qualifiers. For more insight concerning ticketing and further event information, you can visit sarasotaopen.com.
