Citi to sponsor USTA tourney at Sportsmen’s Tennis Club

Banner Staff

Leading global financial services company Citi has signed on to be the title sponsor of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Pro Circuit Women’s $50,000 Challenger tournament, which will be hosted by Sportsmen’s Tennis Club from July 6-15, the Dorchester-based tennis club announced Monday.

“We are excited to welcome Citi as the title sponsor of the first U.S. Pro Circuit women’s tennis tournament ever held in the city of Boston,” said Sportsmen’s Tennis Club Board Chairman Steve Tompkins. “We are proud to be aligned with such a successful, community-focused company. We hope the tournament sponsorship is the beginning of a long lasting relationship between Sportsmen’s Tennis Club and Citi.”

With 96 tournaments throughout the country and prize money ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, the USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the U.S. Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis players and a frequent battleground for established professionals.

Sportsmen’s, a nonprofit organization founded in 1961 with the mission of providing low-cost tennis and a nurturing environment to urban youth of all races, has been recognized nationally as a pioneer in using the sport of tennis to enhance the lives of urban youth.

That mission aligns perfectly with Citi’s, according to Susanne Cameron.

“At Citi, we are committed to helping make a difference in the communities where we work and live,” said Cameron, director of community relations in Massachusetts for Citi, which has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries around the world.

The qualifier round for the Citi U.S. Pro Circuit Women’s $50,000 Challenger tournament will be held July 6-8, with the tournament’s main event running from July 9-15. The 32 players participating in the tournament are among the world’s best, with their world rankings ranging from 61 to the mid-200s.

In addition to the qualifying and main events, other activities will include matches pitting celebrities against tennis pros and a free kids’ day, which will feature a kids’ tennis clinic.

Tickets are available by calling Sportsmen’s at 617-288-9092. For more information, visit www.sportsmenstennisclub.org.