The Landings on Skidaway Island will once again welcome tennis professionals from around the world when the 2010 $50,000 Savannah Challenger returns to the Franklin Creek Tennis Center May 1-9. A portion of the proceeds from the 2010 tournament will be donated to The Savannah Community Foundation to be distributed among local charities. The 2009 tournament, which was held May 2-10, attracted more than 3,200 fans and featured 64 world-ranked tennis professionals vying to win highly coveted ATP ranking points in addition to prize money.
"We are pleased that after the success of last year’s tournament, the USTA has awarded the Challenger to Savannah for 2010," says Robin Gold, chairperson of the Savannah Challenger. "The players and USTA staff all raved about how much they enjoyed their stay in Savannah, from the tournament hospitality to the nightlife downtown. It will be fun to host the USTA again and be able to see more world-class tennis."
The Savannah Challenger is not only a great opportunity for tennis fans around the Savannah area to watch world-class tennis players in action, it is also a good warm-up for the players themselves, who go on to compete in some of the world’s top tennis tournaments.
Following the 2009 Savannah Challenger, 28 percent of tournament players went on to participate in the qualifying rounds or better of the French Open, while 21 percent of the players participated in the qualifying rounds or better of Wimbledon. Forty-three percent of 2009 Savannah Challenger players went on to participate in the qualifying rounds or better of the U.S. Open.
Among the noteworthy individual achievements of 2009 Savannah Challenger participants was quarterfinalist Jesse Levine, who went on to defeat 24th-ranked Marat Safinon at Wimbledon. Another Savannah Challenger quarterfinalist, University of Georgia graduate John Isner, made headlines when he defeated 5th-ranked Andy Roddick in the U.S. Open.
For more information on the 2010 $50,000 Savannah Challenger and to learn about sponsorship opportunities, please visit Savannah Challenger