LANSING, Mich.— The Greater Lansing Sports Authority and the Mid-Michigan Tennis Association are excited to announce plans to host the Joe D. Pentecost Foundation Capital City Tennis Classic in Greater Lansing this Fall. The event was the first men’s professional level tennis tournament to be held in the state of Michigan when it originated in 2019. Organizers took a hiatus in 2020 due to COVID but are enthusiastic about the events return in November 2021.
The event is sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and is expected to draw 74 participants and 16 teams from 19 countries around the world. Those players will compete for $15,000 in prize money.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the Joe D. Pentecost Foundation as the title sponsor,” said Tournament Director Cody Cross. “The mission of the Foundation is to support and enrich the educational, social and economic life of the greater Lansing, Michigan area which makes them the perfect fit for us. We want to impact our host city in a positive way. And the region is ideal for many reasons. Not only is Lansing growing, but the greater Lansing area has four racquet clubs that train some of the top junior players in Michigan and the Midwest. And of course, East Lansing is the home of men's and women's division 1 collegiate tennis at MSU,” said Cross. “Our central location makes us an accessible destination for anyone in the state. Bringing a professional level tennis tournament to Lansing adds to the great tennis culture we already have. Hopefully the event inspires our junior players and brings players in from surrounding cities to see all that Lansing has to offer.”
“As we saw in 2019, The Joe D. Pentecost Foundation Capital City Tennis Classic will draw first-class athletes for a week of first-rate competition,” said Mike Price, Executive Director for the GLSA. “In addition to watching the competition, locals can get involved by attending youth clinics, hosting International players and participating in volunteer opportunities. This event has proven to be a win for the entire region. We’re excited to welcome them back.”
East Lansing native, former top three player in the world and current CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Todd Martin shares the planner’s enthusiasm about the event. “I’m very pleased to know that these key local parties have made a commitment to hosting an ITF Transition Tour event. The transition from amateur to professional tennis is a massive challenge and only navigated successfully by few,” said Martin. “What is happening in November is an important step on the developmental ladder that all great players have to take.”
The event is scheduled for November 14-21, 2021 at the MSU Tennis Center in East Lansing. To track updated news and information about the event visit: https://capitalcitytennisclassic.com. For more information about the GLSA visit www.lansingsports.org.
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The Greater Lansing Sports Authority (GLSA) is a division of the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau. The GLSA’s mission is to be the leading voice of sports tourism in the Greater Lansing area and to promote economic growth by attracting a diverse range of sporting events to the region. The GLSA will strive to enhance the quality of life for area residents through the development of local sports and fitness programs for all ages, and to support the continued development and maintenance of safe, high-quality athletic facilities.