The 2021 US Open Series will include a brand-new event this summer at a newly constructed tennis facility in Cleveland.
"Tennis in the Land," a WTA 250 event, will be the last women's stop on the Series ahead of the 2021 US Open, with the event taking place from Aug. 22-28 at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica in Flats West Bank. Owned and operated by Cleveland-based sports agency Topnotch Management, the one-week tournament will add to the local sports landscape with six newly constructed courts, highlighted by a stadium court under the pavilion with stunning views of the river and downtown (rendering pictured above).
The tournament, offering $300k in total prize money, marks the biggest women’s sporting event in Northeastern Ohio and will connect Cleveland to the highest levels of the sport on an annual basis.
“The opportunity here is to build a long-lasting event that changes the Cleveland sports landscape and shapes the community in an enduring way," said Kyle Ross, tournament director. "Cleveland has never had an annual women’s sporting event of this level, and through the platform of the WTA Tour we can not only introduce the city to world-class tennis, but we can introduce the tennis world to the city of Cleveland."
The stadium court will have a capacity of 3,000 and offer VIP courtside boxes in addition to general admission seats, complete with views of the river and city skyline. The event will create a dynamic urban experience, with food trucks, a beer garden, live music, a farmers market and an art show all on site.
Beyond the significant local economic impact of the event, the tournament presents an opportunity to drive meaningful engagement across diverse local community groups. Through Topnotch’s work with its annual ATP Challenger event held each winter in Cleveland, the tournament has driven more than $15,000 in donations to Advantage Cleveland, a local leader in urban youth development through tennis and education. The Cleveland Championships will create opportunities to continue to grow these efforts.
“Our community is ready to welcome the annual Women’s Tennis Association 250 event to The Land,” said David Gilbert, President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “The Flats West Bank will showcase our skyline and provide a beautiful backdrop as over 60 million US.. households and beyond tune in to watch the top women athletes compete. With an estimated $2 million in direct spending as well as youth and programming efforts, this event will leave a lasting legacy in our community.”
With numerous official partners already confirmed, including Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, Destination Cleveland, Medical Mutual, Cleveland Clinic, Miller Lite, Great Lakes Brewing Company and White Claw, support for the inaugural event has been strong and additional partners will be confirmed through the spring. Weeklong courtside boxes are currently on sale, and individual tickets will go on sale later this spring. Visit www.tennisintheland.com for more information and to sign up for tournament updates.
Earlier in the summer calendar, the Hall of Fame Open for the Van Alen Cup will also make its debut on the US Open Series. The Newport, R.I., event joined the Series ahead of last summer's slate, but was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Also of note for the 2021 US Open Series is a name change for the ATP and WTA 1000 events in Canada. Formerly the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank, the tournaments in Montreal and Toronto will now be known as the National Bank Open presented by Rogers.