(SAVANNAH, GA) Professional tennis players from around the world will descend upon Savannah this weekend to compete in the 2011 $50,000 Savannah Challenger tennis tournament. The tournament, presented by Critz Automotive Group and The Landings Club, will take place April 30-May 8 at The Landings on Skidaway Island and will feature 32 tennis pros vying to win highly coveted ATP ranking points in addition to prize money. The qualifying rounds of the $50,000 Savannah Challenger begin Saturday, April 30 and continue Sunday, May 1. The singles competition will follow on Monday, May 2 and will continue throughout the week. The doubles competition begins on Tuesday, May 3. The finals for the singles and doubles competition will be held on Saturday, May 8. Among the players competing in the 2011 $50,000 Savannah Challenger are James Blake, who achieved a fourth place world ranking in 2006, and Ryan Sweeting, who recently won the 2011 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships singles title in Houston. Other players slated to compete include Robby Ginepri, Robert Kendrick, Michael Russell, Donald Young, Carsten Ball, Ryan Harrison and Bobby Reynolds. In addition to the competition, several special events are planned, including Kids Day on Saturday, April 30 from 11 a.m.-1p.m.; a fundraising pro-am on Sunday, May 1 from 3-5 p.m. in which 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to Special Pops Tennis, an adaptive tennis program for children and adults with intellectual disabilities; a Players Party on Monday, May 2, from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Franklin Creek Pool; and a Ladies Day on Tuesday, May 3 from 10 a.m.-noon. The 2011 $50,000 Savannah Challenger and all special activities are open to the public. For a complete list of players competing in the tournament and for more information on the tournament, ticket prices and the special events, please visit http://www.savannahchallenger.com or call 912-598-3500.
