A grand slam for tennis in Charlotte
December 9, 2024
Story and photos by Ashley Stroehlein
For the first time in a decade, tennis returns to Spectrum Center. This time it’s for an exhibition match between current stars on tour.
A different kind of buzz filled the home of the Hornets Friday night as thunderous applause greeted some of the biggest names in tennis as they took the court for the Charlotte Invitational.
The inaugural event featured current ATP No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz versus No. 18 Frances Tiafoe in the men’s match, while WTA No. 21 Madison Keys faced No. 76 Sloane Stephens in the women’s match. Tiafoe, who’s also a big NBA fan, played to the crowd before his match even started by stepping out in a number 24 Hornets jersey, a gift to each player ahead of the match.
Frances Tiafoe dons a Charlotte Hornets jersey as he plays Carlos Alcaraz during the Charlotte Invitational.
The success of previous events held by Charlotte Sports led President Danny Morrison to pursue tennis as another good match for a premier event in Charlotte.
Friday night was a good test run. “We always throw things on the wall to see what might work out well,” Morrison says. “If you recall, we said could we get Caitlin Clark last year, and that ended up being a nice success, and we parlayed it into a wonderful double-header this past year with three of the Final Four women’s basketball teams,” he adds, pointing to the success of the Ally Tipoff. The women’s college basketball event debuted in 2023 and will stay in Charlotte at least through 2026.
Madison Keys walks past the serve line during the inaugural Charlotte Invitational, which boasted more than 16,000 people in attendance.
The tennis event was more than just another competition for the players — it was also about giving tennis fans in a growing city a chance to watch top-tier players in person. “To come to a city we’ve never played in before, it’s always really nice and interesting,” Stephens says. “Hopefully there will be more tennis here, but I think just to get it started with us, and obviously, some really good representation, I think that’s a good start for Charlotte.”
“I have a few friends here that have said that tennis is huge, and they’re always wanting professional tennis. I think it’s exciting for us to come and fill up an entire arena,” Keys says.
The Hive also came alive when some famous Charlotteans made surprise appearances on the court. Panthers legend Steve Smith Sr. and current quarterback Andy Dalton took on Alcaraz for some friendly back-and-forth.
Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys meet young tennis players at the newly-refurbished L.C. Coleman Park in northwest Charlotte.
There’s a community aspect to hosting the Charlotte Invitational, too. Before the big night, Stephens and Keys took time to meet with young players when they participated in the inaugural serve at the newly-refurbished tennis court at L.C. Coleman Park in northwest Charlotte.
“It’s just part of their core and they want to give back,” Morrison said of Keys and Stephens donating their time ahead of the match. “This is special though, because Mecklenburg County Parks and Rec do so much. They add to the quality of life for so many in Charlotte, and now we have a chance to recognize their good work and do it with world-class athletes.”
As for the future of the Charlotte Invitational, Morrison says he hopes this is the first of many tennis events to come. SP
