In July of 1969, the inaugural tournament became one of the first open professional tennis tournaments held in the United States. The Legg Mason Tennis Classic has since been part of some of the most innovative changes in tennis, including blue courts, instant replay/video boards in the stadium, Olympus US Open Series, Sunday Main Draw start and, starting in 2009, an ATP “500” level tournament.
ATP World Tour 500
As an ATP World Tour 500 tournament, the Legg Mason Tennis Classic is one of the top 20 men’s tournaments in the world. What this means for the Legg Mason Tennis Classic is….greater prestige. The “500s” will be backed by a top player commitment to play four “500” tournaments a year, offering 500 points for each champion towards ranking, more than $1.2 Million dollars in player compensation, and increased national & international exposure for sponsors.
Olympus US Open Series Event
The Legg Mason Tennis Classic is part of the Olympus US Open Series which links 9 summer tournaments to the US Open creating a cohesive, six-week summer tennis season for ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour professional tournaments in North America. There are 9 tournaments (10 events) that make up the Olympus US Open Series.
The Olympus US Open Series runs for six weeks throughout the summer and culminates with the US Open.
A portion of the proceeds from the Legg Mason Tennis Classic benefits the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF). The WTEF seeks to improve the life prospects for DC area youth, particularly those from lower-income communities, through tennis, educational and community-based activities that teach discipline, build self-esteem and improve academic performance. If you are interested in learning more about how you can support the WTEF, please call (202) 291-9888 or visit the WTEF
website.Dates
July 31 - August 8, 2010
Tournament Hotline
(202) 721-9500
Location
William H.G. FitzGerald
Tennis Center
16th + Kennedy Streets, NW
Washington, D.C. 20011
Stadium
A 7,500 seat facility which features 31 air-conditioned courtside suites. Held in beautiful Rock Creek Park, a division of the National Park Service.
Special considerations
Wheelchair and companion seating, wheelchair accessible ramps, parking spaces, and restrooms conveniently on-site.
Attendance
Average 72,000
Prize Money
$1.4 Million
Television
Social Networking
Facebook Twitter