WTA har meddelat att professionell damtennis återvänder till Memphis, Tennessee, med den första Memphis Classic planerad till 25 juli–2 augusti 2026. WTA 250-tävlingen på Leftwich Tennis Center kommer att ha en 32-spelares singeltabell och 16-lagars dubbel på utomhus hardcourt och ersätter Cleveland-turneringen i kalendern. Detta markerar stadens första WTA Tour-tävling sedan 2013.
Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) meddelade den 2 mars 2026 att Memphis kommer att stå värd för en WTA 250-turnering för första gången på 13 år. Memphis Classic kommer att äga rum på Leftwich Tennis Center, som genomgick en renovering och utbyggnad för miljontals dollar innan det återöppnades 2023. Anläggningen är värd för University of Memphis tennislagen, American Conference-mästerskap och är öppen för allmänheten med både inomhus- och utomhusbanor. The event replaces the Cleveland WTA 250, originally scheduled for late August, and is positioned ahead of the WTA 1000 in Montreal and the US Open. It will award WTA rankings points and prize money, with the player field to be announced four weeks prior. Organizers expect top professionals to participate as they prepare for major hard-court events. Memphis Mayor Paul Young described the announcement as “a major win for our city” during a press conference at Leftwich. He highlighted the city’s investment in the facility, stating, “When we invest in our assets, we know that opportunities follow.” The tournament is part of a multi-year agreement, ensuring its continuation beyond 2026. Tournament director Kyle Ross emphasized its visibility: “That competition will be broadcast around the country, around the world. 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.” Tennis Memphis CEO John Borden noted the community impact: “This is a real opportunity to energize our entire community and show every young person what excellence looks like... demonstrated by the best athletes in the world delivering exciting moments and competition that only tennis and sports can deliver.” Historically, Memphis hosted the U.S. National Indoor Championships from 2002 to 2013, with past champions including Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Victoria Azarenka. National sponsorship is already secured, with plans to attract more ahead of the event. Tickets are not yet on sale.
