The WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) 125 event, consisting of $125,000 in total prize money and ranking points, ran until Aug. 22. The first WTA 250 is going to feature $250,000 in prize money and ranking points and started Aug. 23 and goes until Aug. 28, the week before the U.S. Open. The WTA 250 International event will run from Sept. 27-Oct. 3, the week before the BNP Paribas Open/Indian Wells tournament.
Murray’s XS Tennis is located on a $17 million sprawling athletic complex over 13 acres, featuring 15 outdoor courts, 12 indoor courts, a fitness center and classrooms. It is located in the primarily low-income area of Washington Park in Chicago.
The festival also included a combine for young minority players to display their skills for HBCU coaches who can offer tennis scholarships for the fall of 2022.
The festival also got a major boost from legend Venus Williams who played but lost in straight sets, according to CBS Chicago. The seven-time Grand Slam winner hopes that the South Side will host more tennis festivals in the future.
“Great to see the crowd and the support I got out there. I was so delighted and so unexpected. I definitely wish I could have won today. I was just so rusty,” Venus Williams said. “I’d love for the conditions to continue where we’re able to play sports on the South Side, because it’s really beautiful here.”
For information and tickets, log onto chicagotennisfestival.com.
