TALLAHASSEE, April 3, 2017

The USTA announced that the Forestmeadows Athletic Center in Tallahassee will host the 18th annual Tallahassee Tennis Challenger, April 24-29. The tournament, a USTA Pro Circuit event, is one of the largest tennis events in Florida and attracts many players preparing to play on clay at the French Open.

New in 2017, the tournament will increase total prize money from $50,000 to $75,000. The field for the Challenger will feature 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams. Players ranked as high as No. 50 in the world typically compete in Challenger-level events. The qualifying tournament beginning April 22 will determine the final four singles players in the field.

The Tallahassee Tennis Challenger continues to be a Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Foundation Project for the thirteenth year. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Vogter Neuro-Intensive Care Unit which cares for patients of all ages who suffer neurological trauma or require surgical intervention for life threatening illnesses. In 2016, the net proceeds were again donated to the D. Mark Vogter Memorial Endowment making the total contribution to the endowment over $700,000 for the last 18 years.

In 2010 a new endowment named the Maria Yealdhall Challenger Tennis Fund was established with the Tallahassee Friends of Our Parks Foundation. Contributions from ticket sales are donated each year and are used to assist in tennis related projects and programs throughout the city. The first improvement for the Tallahassee tennis community from this endowment was at the Winthrop Park city courts where four shade structures were installed on the courts. For ticket information, please visit tallahasseechallenger.com