Memphis Renames Tournaments As National Indoors

Written by: Staff on 23rd November 2012

Memphis Renames Tournaments As National Indoors |

After losing their title sponsors, the ATP and WTA tournaments in Memphis have been renamed and will now be known as the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships. In 2012, the ATP tournament was known as Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the women’s as the Memphis International. They will be played February 16-24 at The Racquet Club of Memphis.

The company that owns the event, Sharks Sports and Entertainment, said the new name is part of a long-term branding initiative, even though there are rumors that the group will attempt to sell it after the ATP tournament is concluded in February.

Sharks Sports and Entertainment already sold the ATP 500 designation of the tournament to a group in Brazil, and will move its 250 sanction from its tournament in San Jose, California, to Memphis in 2014. San Jose will shut its doors after its February tournament.

The Memphis WTA tournament has also been sold to Brazil and it will play its last year in Memphis in 2013. Cellular South sponsored the women’s event until 2011.

SSE Executive Vice President Michael Lehr told the Memphis Commercial Appeal that the company is in “active discussions with over half a dozen” potential naming or presenting sponsors for the event.

“We decided that in changing over the tournament and getting ready for the future we wanted to set a path that the tournament was going to stay on and be branded as we go forward.”

If it manages to stay in Memphis, beginning in 2014, the men’s tournament will be the only American indoor stop on the ATP Tour.

Lehr said the future of men’s pro tennis in Memphis is strong, but he did sound concerned that they may not find enough sponsors.

“Now, I will say, in order to remain strong, we will need and continue to need the support of the local companies as participating and major sponsors of the event as we’ve had in the past,” Lehr said. “That is a key element to the success of professional tennis in Memphis.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire