Pro tennis comes back to Southaven 

Professional tennis makes a return to DeSoto County as the Southaven Open serves up a week of high-level competition at the Snowden Grove Tennis Complex from Aug. 4-11.

This year’s event is bigger than ever, featuring both men’s draw and a first time women’s draw — a milestone tournament director Keith Evans says reflects the tournament’s growing prestige.

“This is probably my 20th year bringing pro tennis to the Mid-South,” Evans said. “We started in Tunica in 2004, then moved to Germantown Country Club. When that closed, Michael Johnson, a longtime friend and now tennis director here in Southaven, invited me to bring the tournament here. That was six years ago, and it keeps growing.”

Part of the USTA Pro Circuit, the Southaven Open represents a vital step on the competitive ladder for up-and-coming pros — a “Triple-A baseball” level of tennis, Evans said. The tournament features a $25,000 men’s draw and a $35,000 women’s draw, attracting international talent and rising American stars. 

Past participants in Evans’ events have included John Isner, James Blake, and more recently, Alex Michelsen — who played here just two years ago and is now ranked in the top 30 worldwide.

“This year we’ve got some incredible players coming,” Evans said. “On the men’s side, Cooper Williams, who won the Australian Open Junior title, and Kaylan Bigun, last year’s French Open junior champion, will both be here. For the women, we’re excited to welcome Katie Swan, a former world No. 115 and WTA semifinalist who’s coming back from injury. She’s our wild card and definitely one to watch.”

Tournament Details and Schedule

Play begins Monday, Aug. 4, with men’s and women’s qualifying rounds, followed by main draw action starting Tuesday. Evening sessions are planned throughout the week under newly installed LED lights, which Evans said are “pro-spec approved and great for drawing nighttime crowds.”

• Semifinals and doubles finals are set for Saturday, Aug. 10
• Men’s and women’s singles finals will cap off the event on Sunday, Aug. 11
  

Live streaming will be available throughout the week on the USTA Pro Circuit website, which drew more than 400,000 global viewers to the tournament last year, Evans said. Daily schedules and updates will also be posted on the Mississippi Tennis Association Facebook page, and on Evans’ own social media.

Largest Pro Tennis Event in Mississippi

The Southaven Open holds the distinction of being Mississippi’s only men’s professional tennis tournament, and the largest women’s event in the state. The venue — recently upgraded with eight new courts for a total of 20 — is helping solidify Southaven’s place as a tennis destination.

“This is one of the best facilities in the state now,” Evans said. “With the added courts, I think Southaven is poised to host even bigger events down the road, bringing in more players and fans to the area.”

Community Involvement

The event also includes a Pro-Am tournament for sponsors to pair up with professional players, along with a Kids Day on Wednesday, Aug. 6, hosted by the Mississippi Tennis Association.

“We’ll have a couple of players working with the kids, giving tips, and having fun,” Evans said. “And then we’ll feed them pizza and give out some prizes. It’s all about growing the game and showing kids how fun this sport can be.”

Weather and Contingency Plans

With heat and summer storms always a factor in August, Evans said the tournament is prepared. “We’ll start early in the mornings, and if the heat gets bad, we can push matches into the evening,” he explained. “And thanks to our new lights, night matches are no problem.”