In 2023, world-class professional tennis will return to Berks County with the 4th Annual Ellesse Pro Tennis Challenge. Which will be held August 18–19 at the Emkey Tennis Garden in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.
This year’s competition has four top-tier athletes, including Austrians Filip Misolic (world #129), Maximillian Neuchrist (world #225), a 2022 event finalist, and (world #540). Michael Zheng, a freshman at Columbia University who reached the NCAA’s round of 16 and was an ATP Challenger Finalist in Puerto Rico earlier this summer. New Zealander KP Pannu has been confirmed as the fourth player. The Kiwi defeated former Ellesse Pro Tennis Champion Denis Kudla in qualification to earn a spot in his first ATP 500 level competition. This week at the Citi Open in Washington, DC.
Closer to the competition, the final two singles players will be announced.
The Emkey Tennis Garden, which hosts the event at the Dr. Ronald and Judy Emkey estate. He is also commemorated for its 50th anniversary, having been built for the first time in 1973. The BCTA recognized the Emkey Family as a member of its 2023 Hall of Fame Class. They will receive honor once again at the professional event.
BCTA President and Ellesse Pro Tennis Challenge event Director Ryan Knarr said.
“This year it is extra special with our proceeds befitting COR Tennis scholarships for underserved youth and portion of the proceeds being donated by COR Tennis directly to benefit the Antietam Tennis program to help them recover after the devastating floods in July. That is what our pro event is all about, helping people and using tennis as a platform to better humanity in Berks County and Beyond.”
The total prize pool is $9,000. The competition is in its third year. The previous winners were Denis Kudla (2020), Makund Saisikumar (2021), and Sumit Nagal (2022).
ATP Professionals KP Pannu and Filip Misolic will lead a one-hour junior clinic for kids aged 12 to 18 on Wednesday, August 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Hampden Park, the home of COR Tennis.
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