Philly Open brings women’s pro tennis back to Philadelphia – NBC10 Philadelphia

Professional women’s tennis is returning to Philadelphia for the first time in 20 years with the inaugural Ennoble Care Philly Open.

The tournament at the University of Pennsylvania’s Hamlin Tennis Center will bring dozens of elite players to the city. It kicks off Sunday and runs through Aug. 29.

The event is part of a larger effort by Philadelphia Sisters to make the city a premier destination for women’s sports.

Comedian Wanda Sykes, one of the founders of Philadelphia Sisters, said the group is excited to help bring professional women’s tennis back to the city.

“20 years since we’ve had professional women’s tennis here so we are super excited to be involved with bringing it back,” Sykes said.

Alex Niedbalski-Sykes of Philadelphia Sisters said the organization has worked for nearly seven years to bring more women’s sports to the city.

“We want to bring more women’s sports moving forward because Philadelphia is a women’s sports town,” Niedbalski-Sykes said.

Organizers also hope the Philly Open will give young athletes a chance to see women competing at the highest levels of their sport.

“To help our kids see that women’s athletes rock and that they can achieve like the greatest levels that men are always on TV for doing,” Ashley Lunkenheimer of Philadelphia Sisters said.

For young tennis player Trinity Harvey, seeing professional players compete close to home is an exciting opportunity.

“I am super duper excited!” Harvey said.

“Because they encourage me, other kids and other women can like go on with their dream,” Harvey added.

Starla Crandall of Philadelphia Sisters said that kind of representation can give young people something to work toward.

“To see yourself in someone playing sports and achieving I think gives kids a reason to be involved, something to aspire to and that’s why we do it,” Crandall said.

Philadelphia Sisters says tennis is only part of its vision for growing women’s sports in the city. Lacrosse, ice hockey and soccer are among the possibilities the group is considering next.

For now, organizers hope the inaugural Philly Open demonstrates the city’s appetite for women’s athletics.

“Philadelphia is hungry for women’s sports. They show up for women’s sports,” Sykes said.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.