Memphis Returns to the WTA Map: New 250 Tournament Announced for 2026
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Professional women’s tennis is heading back to the “Home of the Blues.” The WTA announced Monday that Memphis, Tennessee, will officially rejoin the WTA Tour calendar in 2026, ending a nearly 15-year hiatus for the city.
The new event, dubbed the Memphis Classic, is scheduled for the week of July 27, 2026. It will take over the slot previously held by the Cleveland event, which was originally slated for late August.
A New Era at Leftwich Tennis Centre
Unlike the city’s previous indoor iterations, the Memphis Classic will be an outdoor hard-court tournament. The event will feature:
- Singles Draw: 32 players
- Doubles Draw: 16 teams
The tournament will be hosted at the Leftwich Tennis Centre, a facility that recently underwent a massive multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion completed in 2023. This upgrade positions Memphis as a premier destination for the summer hard-court swing leading up to the US Open.
Reclaiming a Storied Legacy
Memphis has a deep-rooted history with the WTA, though it hasn’t hosted a sanctioned event since 2013. During its previous run as the U.S. National Indoor Championships, the city saw some of the greatest names in the sport lift the trophy.
Former Memphis Champions include: Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Victoria Azarenka.
2026 Season Momentum
The return to Tennessee comes during a period of high parity and excitement on the tour. The 2026 season has already produced 12 different singles champions, highlighting the depth of the current field. Notable highlights include American star Jessica Pegula, who recently secured her landmark 10th career WTA title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
With the Memphis Classic joining the fray, the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz continues to expand its footprint in the United States, offering fans in the Mid-South a chance to see world-class tennis up close once again.
Click here to see the full 2026 WTA Tour calendar.