Mercer Tennis Classic Ups Prize Purse to $100,000, Attracting Top 50 Players

The Mercer Tennis Classic is set to host another U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) Pro Circuit tournament this year, with an upgraded prize purse of $100,000. Organizers anticipate the presence of more top-ranked players due to this increase in prize money.

Eric Hayes, Director of the Mercer Tennis Classic, stated, “This doesn’t happen to a lot of tournaments. We’re going to get top 50 players in the world.”

This marks the 11th year of the tournament in Macon-Bibb County. Past editions have featured prominent players, including those who competed in Wimbledon earlier this month, and others like Danielle Collins (2016), Jessica Pegula (2018), and Emma Navarro (2020-22), who are participating in the 2024 Olympics.

Mayor Lester Miller expressed enthusiasm about the event, noting, “We’re so excited to be able to host this event once again at our SPLOST-funded John Drew Smith Tennis Center. This is a great opportunity to show these players what Macon-Bibb County is all about. Thank you to the Recreation Department, Macon Area Tennis Association, and all of our partners who make this tournament happen.”

The Mercer Tennis Classic has previously showcased players with major titles, including Kateryna Bondarenko, who won the 2014 Macon singles title and the 2008 Australian Open Doubles title with her sister Alona, and Francesca Schiavone, the 2010 French Open singles champion and the tournament’s top seed in 2018.

Bobby Walker, Tennis & Pickleball Tournament Director, highlighted the tournament’s significance, stating, “The Mercer Tennis Classic is important in our city, it elevates Macon as a brand. It allows adults and young people to see world-class tennis within 15 minutes of their home and there aren’t many chances in sports to be able to do that.”

The tournament starts the week of October 14 at the John Drew Smith Tennis Center (). For ticket sales and more information visit www.ustamaconclassic.com. 

About the John Drew Smith Tennis Center 

The John Drew Smith Tennis Center (JDSTC) is regarded as one of the top 25 public municipal facilities in the nation by Tennis Magazine and the United States Tennis Association. It has 22 tennis courts, 6 pickleball courts, a beautiful observation deck and pro shop. The facility is a haven for programming for juniors, adults, and everyone in the community. Historic John Drew Smith Tennis Center is renowned for hosting local, state, and national tennis events. Tennis players not only from the state of Georgia but all over the country, are familiar with JDS. Almost every competitive junior player from the state of Georgia in the last 40 years has played at this renowned facility. The activity is so extensive, and the atmosphere is so conducive to tennis that, in 2005, Racquet Sports Industry (RSI) named John Drew Smith Tennis Center the Municipal Facility of the Year.