WTA comes to Kentucky for first time with plenty of star power
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (BVM) — Professional tennis and the Bluegrass state have not often been used in the same sentence, but that will soon all change in August. On July 9, the Women’s Tennis Association announced its updated international tour schedule following a long delay due to COVID-19, including the Top Seed Open, which would take place from Aug. 10-16 in Nicholasville. The event will be the first U.S. WTA tournament since the return to competitive play and the first time the state will host a professional tennis tournament.
“As the WTA Tour looks to return to competition in 2020, we are pleased to provide additional playing opportunities for our athletes,” WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said in a press release. “We are delighted to welcome the teams in Prague and Lexington onto the 2020 provisional calendar and look forward to the return of women’s professional tennis.”
With the announcement of the tournament also came an unveiling of some of the event’s participants. Some of the most notable players include Victoria Azarenka, Sloane Stephens, Coco Gauff and Venus and Serena Williams. Serena Williams, the nearly unanimous face of international women’s tennis, is a 23-time Grand Slam champion and will participate in the event to help springboard her to the next Grand Slam tournament in the U.S. Open on Aug. 31 in New York City. Williams is currently rated the No. 9 singles player in the WTA.
Top Seed Tennis Club is excited to announce that @serenawilliams will be joining the 2020 Top Seed Open! #TSOpenLex #TSTC #Advantageyou @WTA @CrackedRacquets @BGO_KY pic.twitter.com/xSAgAq58jg
— Top Seed Tennis Club (@TopSeedTennisKY) July 16, 2020
Americans Stephens and Gauff will bring added interest to the state’s first event. Stephens, who was the 2017 U.S. Open Champion, is currently ranked No. 37 in the world and has won six singles titles in her career. Gauff, at just 16-years-old, will be one of the youngest competitors in the tournament. Though she has not won any Grand Slams yet, Gauff has captured the interest of fans on numerous occasions, but became most well-known when she became the youngest player in history to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon. Gauff made it to the Round of 16 in the event and each of her matches drew the most U.S. viewers during the tournament.
Oh hey @cocogauff , we will see you in August at the 2020 #TSOpenLEX #TSTC #advantageyou pic.twitter.com/Y8BIwy16E5
— Top Seed Tennis Club (@TopSeedTennisKY) July 21, 2020
Venus Williams, who turned 40 this year, has won 49 career singles titles, including seven Grand Slams. A former No. 1 singles player in the world, Williams currently ranks No. 67 and is looking for her first singles title of the year. Azarenka, another former No. 1 player, has won the Australian Open two times and is currently ranked No. 58 in singles.
Monday blues?? Not anymore! @Venuseswilliams will be joining the Top Seed Open this year! #TSTC #advantageyou #TSOpenLEX pic.twitter.com/lLKLYnABS6
— Top Seed Tennis Club (@TopSeedTennisKY) July 20, 2020
The Top Seed Tennis Club in Nicholasville will play host to the event. The facility includes 12 indoor courts, nine outdoor courts and has played host to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association state tournament in the past. The event will also see a mix of both singles and doubles matches throughout the week with a draw of 32 players for singles matches and 16 for doubles. The event will give over $225,000 in prize monies to players.
Event organizers will work closely with one of the event’s biggest sponsors, Bluegrass Orthopaedic Medical facility, to ensure the safety of players, staff and local community members.
“I am truly excited to host the return to WTA tennis at the Top Seed Club in Kentucky,” tournament director Jonathan Sanders said in a press release. “At Top Seed, we are committed to the growth of the game at every level from grassroots to pro tennis, and so when I was given the opportunity to bring a WTA International to Lexington, I jumped at it.”
According to Sanders, there will be no fans in attendance and the tournament will be using an entire hotel for both players and staff to work as a “bubble” in an effort to keep the COVID-19 virus out of the event.
