The United States Tennis Association (USTA) will bring the Nashville Tennis Classic to Allen Arena this Saturday, where a special tennis court will be placed on the basketball floor.
John Isner and Sam Querrey will kick off the event at 3 p.m. with a singles match. Isner is currently ranked No. 12 in the world while Querrey has reached No. 17 during his career.
Following that match, Isner and Querrey will team up to face the Bryan brothers for a doubles match. Mike and Bob Bryan are the most decorated doubles team in the world with a record sixteen Grand Slam titles.
The event comes to Nashville as United States tennis prepares for the Summer Olympics in Rio and the Davis Cup, the top team tournament for men’s international tennis.
“USTA Tennessee is thrilled to support the Nashville Tennis Classic and honored to host members of the U.S. Davis Cup Team in our city,” said Tracy Davies, Executive Director of USTA Tennessee. “Nashville is a vibrant tennis community and bringing role models of this caliber to Tennessee will have a tremendous impact on the future growth of our sport.”
With the U.S. tennis players coming into Nashville, Lipscomb men’s tennis will be leaving the city. The Bisons travel to play Georgia State and Alabama over the weekend. While they won’t be on campus, head coach Mario Hernandez said he is excited to have the event at Lipscomb.
Hernandez said he hopes the event will help grow the sport and its popularity in the area and the school.
“Having the best doubles team ever and the top American pro tennis players on campus this weekend is an unbelievable experience for the Lipscomb community to host,” Hernandez said. “I would hope that anyone who is a sports fan would come out for this event. It’s going to be great.”
The Lady Bisons, however, will get to take in the event as they stay in Nashville to host Western Kentucky and Alabama-Huntsville on Friday and Sunday, respectfully. The Nashville Tennis Classic gives Bison fans, and tennis fans, a weekend full of tennis action.
For tickets to the Nashville Tennis Classic call (615) 966-7075. Reserved seating tickets are $35 and courtside tickets are $55, with proceeds going to the Nashville chapter of Gilda’s Club. Gilda’s Club is associated with the Cancer Support Community.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics