Winston-Salem Open ATP Tennis Tournament

2023 marks the twelfth year of the internationally known ATP tennis tournament, The Winston-Salem Open. It is scheduled for August 19-26, 2023.

We look forward to ATP tennis’ return to Winston-Salem in the summer of 2023 at the grounds of Wake Forest University’s tennis facility.

2023 individual ticket sales start in June 2023.

Players To Watch

The 2022 tournament’s initial player field included wild cards Dominic Thiem, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, and Kei Nishikori. We may continue to see wildcards through the start of the tournament. 

Big-name tennis stars who played in 2022 include:

• Ilya Ivashka (2021 WS Open Champion)
• Dominic Thiem (2020 US Open Champion)
• Frances Tiafoe (American, current ATP rank #25, 2019 Australian Open quarterfinalist)
• Grigor Dmitrov (Former world #3, current rank #18)
• Maxime Cressy (American, current rank #32)
• Marcos Giron (American, current rank #54)
• Brandon Nakashima (American, on the rise, current rank #66)
• Botic van de Zandschulp (on the rise, current rank #24)
• Holger Rune (on the rise, French Open 2022 semifinalist, current rank #29)
• Kyle Edmund (2018 WS Open quarterfinalist)
• David Goffin (Wimbledon 2022 quarterfinalist)
• Fabio Fognini (an entertaining player, current rank #61)

It will be interesting to see who shows up as Wild Cards or Alternates as we move closer to the event.

Past Players

Players who played in 2021 included:

• Ilya Ivashka (2021 WS Open Champion)
• Andy Murray (Three-time Grand Slam winner and Olympic gold medalist)
• Pablo Carreno Busta (2016 WS Open Champion)
• Dan Evans (top-ranked Brit on ATP Tour at the time)
• Marin Cilic (US Open winner in 2014)
• Lorenzo Sonego (on the rise)
• Mikael Ymer (on the rise)
• Emil Ruusuvuori (on the rise)
• David Goffin (Two-time WS Open quarterfinalist)
• Frances Tiafoe (American, quarterfinalist at 2019 Australian Open)
• Carlos Alcarez (on the rise)
• Nick Kyrgios (a most entertaining player and this is his first time playing here) – pulled out
• Kevin Anderson (2015 WS Open Champion) – pulled out

In 2021 we were treated to opportunities to watch these up-and-coming, NextGen players – Carlos Alcarez, Lorenzo Sonego, Ilya Ivashk, Mikael Ymer, and Emil Ruusuvuori.

Past Champions

The winner of the 2021 championship was Ilya Ivashka, a first-time participant and rising star. It was the first championship title in an ATP event for the 27-year-old Belarusian man.

While Triad-native and top American John Isner was back for the 2017 tournament but has not returned since. He is the original King of the Winston-Salem Open, having won the first two years championship crown. However, he canceled a few times in recent years due to injuries and a desire to rest before the US Open, which starts the following week. Isner is also a local who grew up in nearby Greensboro, NC, and his family still calls the Triad home, so he enjoys some of his mom’s home cooking during the tournament.

WTA: Women’s Exhibition Match Featuring Ash Barty & Coco Gauff

For the first time in Winston-Salem Open history, two female tennis stars played an exhibition match in 2019 as a part of the tournament. At the time of the announcement, Ashleigh Barty was the top-ranked female tennis player after winning this year’s French Open. She faced off against the biggest sensation from Wimbledon 2019, the 15-year-old American Cory “Coco” Gauff!

Gauff hit the WTA scene in 2019 with a huge splash when the then 15-year-old took out Venus Williams at Wimbledon. She also won the 2018 French Open Junior Girls title and is ready to play big at the US Open.

Barty is a 23-year-old from Australia and is also just starting to make a name for herself. It’s not every day that we get to see a No. 1 ranked tennis player grace the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.

In addition to the exhibition, the two players spent a few days around town while training and resting up for the US Open the following week. Our surface is reportedly very similar to the courts in New York, making this a great way to get competitive match play under their belt leading up to the last Grand Slam of the calendar year.

I was excited because we know that getting prepared for the year’s final major on the women’s side is very difficult. But they see what we offer is a great place to rest and prepare

Bill Oakes, Winston-Salem Open tournament directory 2011 – 2019

The exhibition match occurred at 7 pm on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, and was included in the night ticket. Coco Gauff took the trophy for this historic match.

Winston Salem Open Draw?

Are you wondering who’s playing next year? The draw is composed of 48 players for men’s singles and 16 teams for men’s doubles. Prize money amounts to $700,000. The draw is selected at a draw party on Friday night, the day before qualifying matches start.

Once announced, the draws for singles and qualifying will be posted on the WS Open website. Who’s your favorite player, and who will you be rooting for throughout the tournament? Let us know in the comments!

How To Buy Winston-Salem Open Tickets

Individual ticket sales start in June. Tickets can be purchased online at www.winstonsalemopen.com, by calling (336) 758-6409, or in person at the Wake Forest ticket office located at Bridger Field House at BB&T Field. If you are a local tennis fan, you can buy tickets at the box office one hour before they go on sale anywhere else!

There are also special ticket packages available for groups as well as “Friends of the Tournament.”

Want To Get Involved?

Ball person tryouts are held in early August for anyone interested in being on the courts to see tennis up-close and personal.  Be sure to fill out an online ball person application before showing up at Wake Forest University Indoor Tennis Center if you wish to be considered. Applicants must be at least 12 years of age, know how to keep score, and attend training sessions.

And there are many more opportunities to volunteer, from ushers and tickets to transportation and guest services. You can learn more and signup by visiting the Volunteer page on the Winston-Salem Open website.

Past Year Players Include Andy Roddick & John Isner

In the opening year of the tournament (2011), we were not only graced with an incredible event but also some top-name tennis names like Andy Roddick, John Isner, James Blake, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Kevin Anderson, and Donald Young, All 6 of these players were ATP ranked in the top 100. More recent tournaments showcased the playing of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Grigor Dimitrov, Tomas Berdych, Kei Nishikori, Pablo Carreno Busta, Sam Querrey, David Goffin, and Jurgen Melzer. This year looks like another stellar lineup, and who knows who else may still sign up for the Winston-Salem Open before the tourney begins!

ATP Tennis Returns To Winston-Salem

The tournament (formerly named Pilot Penn and held in New Haven, CT) takes place in August at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex adjacent to BB&T Field. It is one of the most-watched tournaments in the US Open Series because it is the last tournament before the one and only Grand Slam tennis event, the US Open in New York City. It is also the same surface as the US Open, so it is the perfect place for the players to warm up for the big show in the Big Apple. Everyone keeps an eye out to see who to watch for in New York.