Whether you realize it or not, a very special event takes place right in your own backyard every August: a prized jewel many other communities would love to have. The $50,000 Binghamton Professional Tennis Tournament (a Challenger event) draws spectators from across the region and entries from nearly every country around the world that produces tennis players

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Jeff Salzenstein, a Binghamton favorite, entertaining the crowd

If you are into name dropping, Lleyton Hewitt, Tim Henman, Karol Kucera and James Blake are just a few of the marquee players who can list a Binghamton appearance in their resume. None of them came home with hardware… 3 of the 4 lost in the 1st round! Tough tournament. Sampras, Agassi Courier adn Roddick are all players who competed in Challenger level tournaments.

The point I make here is this: You will see up-and-coming great players compete in Binghamton. Future champions begin at the Challenger level. So do players on the comeback trail.

More importantly, you will be able to view an extremely high level of tennis in an up close and personal environment. There is no other tennis circuit in the world that combines such a high level of play with such a fan-friendly enviroment. And make no mistake, our tournament is as friendly as they come.

This tournament’s greatest feature may be the players themselves - not just their level of play but their accessibility. You may often see a player kicking a soccer ball with a ball kid, meeting a spectator under the food tent or simply making small talk with the wonderful staff at the tournament desk. Unlike at major events, players get to show their personalities on the Challenger level. The community gets to know who they are, and they get to know us. So many different cultures and ways of life are welcomed into our community. Friendships are forged. Binghamton becomes more than just another stop on the tour. We are beginning to house an increasing number of players, which not only adds to our reputation as an event the players really look forward to, but further strenghtens our bonds of friendship.

Being a tournament junkie, I can’t get enough. Besides great tennis, there are clinics, special events, Lupos food and the BTC pro shop tent. You can always run into someone you know as you leisurely saunter the grounds. And there is never a shortage of tennis conversation. This event brings our tennis community together like no other.

The tennis community needs this event, and the tournament needs your support. We have discounted patron sponsor ticket packages for next years event available at the desk. Next month I will post an article outlining these packages. See you on the courts!