SARASOTA — When the subject is the tennis tournament which bears her name, title sponsor Elizabeth Moore believes bigger is better.
The last three years, the Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open, which started in 2009 and is part of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger Tour, was held at the Payne Park Tennis Center near downtown Sarasota.
But differences over licenses and restrictions forced the tourney to find a new home, and it settled on the Sarasota Sports Club, formerly the Serendipity Tennis Club. It’ll be the home of the EMSO for the next decade, as both parties signed a 10-year contract with this year’s event running April 6-13.
And the biggest difference fans will notice in the tourney’s new venue? The title sponsor since 2017 said a lot more legroom.
“It’s much more expansive,” Moore said. “At Payne Park we were downtown, and it was tightly quartered. But now we have more space, more latitude to do what we want. And we have two regulation-size courts, which is really awesome.”
And while Moore liked Payne Park’s proximity to the downtown area in helping promote business and tourism there, she said the Sarasota Sports Club isn’t far away.
“(The SSC) is wide open,” she said. “We can bring in tents and bleachers, and there’s more room for vendors and sponsors. Lots of parking, too.”
Payne Park had ATP-approved lightning which made night matches possible, something the Sarasota Sports Club will be unable to do.
“We have to get out by 8 p.m.,” Moore said. “Maybe in the future we can install lighting.”
Nearly $250,000 was spent on improving the SSC’s clubhouse, courts, and landscaping.
“We’re confident that it’s a good investment because we have a 10-year contract,” Moore said. “And every year we want to continuously improve it to make this a world-class ATP-respected facility so we can host the EMSO. It was in tough shape. It was pretty run down. It needs to be fixed up and improved to make it better every year.”
Even with the money invested, only seven of the SSC’s Har-Tru clay courts will be used for the tournament.
Of the facility’s top two courts, center court, has been named after legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, and court 2 after 2010 winner Kei Nishikori. Other past EMSO winners have included James Blake, Sam Querry, Nick Kyrgios, Tommy Paul, and Daniel Galan. Last year, Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis defeated Belgium’s Zizou Bergs in three sets to claim the title.
Galan, the 28-year-old Colombian who won the 2022 EMSO championship, defeating American Steve Johnson before losing in the 2023 final to German Daniel Altmaier, returns for this year’s event. He will be joined by Australian Rinky Hijikata, at No. 86, the highest-ranked player in the tourney. In 2023, entered as wild cards, Hijikata and Jason Kuber won the Australian Open men’s doubles title.
Also scheduled to play in this year’s EMSO are Americans Brandon Holt (ranked 116), Eliot Spizzirri (134), Mitchell Krueger (141), Murphy Cassone (223), Emilio Nava (235), and Micah Braswell (428). Among the wild-card entries in the main draw are Americans Michael Mmoh (286), Martin Damm (309), and Jenson Brooksby (937). Among the wild-card qualifiers is junior player Jagger Leach, the 17-year-old son of former WTA player Lindsey Davenport.
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open Schedule
Sunday, April 6: Men’s Singles Qualifying Rounds; Kids Day: kids 18 and under get a free grandstand ticket with adult purchase of grandstand ticket for $10. Gates open at 9 am; matches begin at 10 am. Twelve matches will be played on three courts.
Monday, April 7: Completion of qualifying, start of first-round singles and doubles matches. Gates open at 9 a.m., matches begin at 10 a,m. The last match will not start before 5 p.m.The matches will be played on three courts.
Tuesday, April 8: Men’s singles and men’s doubles. Gates open at 9 a.m., matches begin at 10 a.m. The last match will not start before 5 p.m. Thirteen matches will be played on three courts.
Wednesday, April 9: Men’s singles and men’s doubles. Gates open at 10 a.m., matches begin at 11 a.m. The last match will not start before 5 p.m. Eight matches will be played on two courts.
Thursday, April 10: Men’s singles and men’s doubles. Gates open at 10 a.m., matches begin at 11 a.m. The last match will not start before 5 p.m. Eight matches will be played on two courts.
Friday, April 11: Men’s singles and men’s doubles semifinals. Gates open at noon, matches begin at 1 p.m. The last match will not start before 5 p.m. Six matches will be played on two courts.
Saturday, April 12: Men’s doubles finals and men’s singles semifinals. Gates open at noon; doubles final begins at 1 p.m. Three matches played on center court.
Sunday, April 13: Men’s singles final on center court. Gates open at noon, match begins at 1 p.m.
Sarasoat Open Tickets
To purchase tickets, visit SarasotaOpen.com.
Prices: Covered Grandstand, Single Day $10 to $58; Weekly Pass $265.
General Admission access to all match courts, with open seating in a covered grandstand on east side of Center Court. No reserved seats. Kids 12 and under free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Ultra VIP Front Row Seat, Single Day $95 – $450; Weekly Pass $1,272.
Individual courtside chair: Seating at the edge of Center Court. Includes full access to the VIP Lounge, with complimentary food and open bar. No one under 21 is allowed in the VIP Tent.
Ultra VIP Front Row Table: 4 Seat Minimum, Single Day $640, $1,800 per table, Weekly Pass $5,056.
Courtside Table for 4: Near Center Court, located within the VIP Tent. Includes complimentary glasses of champagne for the table plus full access for 4 to the VIP Lounge, with complimentary food and open bar. No one under 21 is allowed in the VIP Tent.
VIP Second Row Table: 4 Seat Minimum, Single Day $580, $1,800, Weekly Pass $4,784.
Table for 4 near Center Court: Located within the VIP Tent. Includes one complimentary glass of champagne for the table plus full access for 4 to the VIP Lounge, with complimentary food and open bar. No one under 21 is allowed in the VIP Tent.
VIP Third Row Table: 2 Seat Minimum (no minimum Finals Day), Single Day $260-$450, Weekly Pass $2,240 for two seats, $4,480 for four seat table.
Table accommodating up to 4 people: Near Center Court, located within the VIP Tent. Includes complimentary glasses of champagne for the table plus full access to the VIP Lounge for ticket holders, with complimentary food and open bar. No one under 21 is allowed in the VIP Tent.
Past Sarasota Open Winners
2024: Thanasi Kokkinakis
2023: Daniel Altmaier
2022: Daniel Galan
2019: Tommy Paul
2018: Hugo Dellien
2017: Frances Tiafoe
2016: Mischa Zverev
2015: Federico Delbonis
2014: Nick Kyrgios
2013: Alex Kuznetsov
2012: Sam Querrey
2011: James Blake
2010: Kei Nishikori
2009: James Ward
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open to be played at Sarasota Sports Club for next 10 years
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