For the first time in nearly a decade, professional tennis once again had a home in Memphis. From July 25 through August 2, the inaugural Memphis Classic brought Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 250 competition to the Bluff City, giving local fans the chance to watch some of the world’s best women’s players compete, and the tournament delivered a memorable first chapter.

The biggest story came from 16-year-old qualifier Kristina Liutova, who entered the tournament ranked No. 229 in the world and left Memphis as a WTA champion. In the finals, she battled back from a set down to win 1-6, 6-1, 6-3, becoming the youngest WTA tournament champion since Coco Gauff won in 2019. This win makes her the youngest player in the top 500 and the highest-ranked player under 18 by over 100 spots.

Aside from the riveting matches, the tournament represented the return of a sporting tradition in Memphis. Our previous professional tennis tournament, the Memphis Open, ended in 2017 after a four-decade run at the Racquet Club. The Memphis Classic marked Memphis’s return to the WTA calendar for the first time since.

The success of the tournament reflects the work put into Leftwich Tennis Center over the past several years. Leftwich was expanded into a state-of-the-art tennis destination with 12 indoor and 24 outdoor courts, following a roughly $30 million renovation that was completed in 2023. The project was a partnership between the City of Memphis, the University of Memphis, and non-profit Tennis Memphis, and bringing professional tennis back to Memphis was part of the vision from the beginning.

At Memphis Classic, the investment became a reality, utilizing custom-built stadium seating for approximately 2,000 spectators, while VIP suites, courtside boxes, and upgraded player amenities helped transform Leftwich into a venue capable of hosting a WTA Tour event. Tournament officials praised Leftwich’s player facilities as exceeding what some higher-level WTA events offer.

Tennis Memphis, as the official Venue Partner and Non-Profit Beneficiary, activated their mission through the tournament by providing extraordinary, no-cost experiences for local communities. These initiatives included the Tennis Memphis 2026 Kids Day, the Ladies Baseline Breakfast with the Black Girls Tennis Club and the Love All Project, the Women of Impact Changemakers Panel, and a Community Play with the Pros Day. Additionally, the Memphis Classic and Tennis Memphis donated 25 tickets per day to local Memphis Hometown Heroes, including the Boys & Girls Club of Memphis, My Town Miracles, and the Forrest Spence Fund.

“Tennis Memphis was extraordinarily proud to have played a major role in bringing back professional women’s tennis to Memphis. However, as the Official Venue Partner and Non-Profit Beneficiary of the Memphis Classic, we also wanted to utilize the tournament as a vehicle for change by providing access and entry to tennis for many more members of our Memphis communities,” said Bonnie Delashmit, Chief Operating Officer, Tennis Memphis.

For one week, Leftwich became a professional tennis venue, complete with custom-built stadium seating for approximately 2,000 spectators, VIP suites, courtside boxes, upgraded player amenities, and the energy of a WTA event. What makes the transformation especially meaningful is that the facility remains a public tennis center. The same courts that welcomed WTA players are available to Memphis players of all ages and skill levels.

That accessibility is what makes the return of professional tennis particularly exciting for the local tennis community. Kids and adults can watch players compete at the highest level and then return to the same facility to take a lesson, join a clinic, or play a match of their own.

 

By Zoe Harrison
Photo by Will Moss