Ever wondered what it would be like to play against top American professionals? This September, you can find out!
Universal Tennis is excited to work with the KPSF (Kunal Patel SF) organization to present the 2019 Kunal Patel San Francisco Championships presented by UTR Powered by Oracle, a men's level-based community play-in tournament in memory of San Francisco tennis player and fan Kunal Patel.
The multi-week Bay Area men’s event will feature American professionals Sam Querrey (UTR 15.53) , Steve Johnson (UTR 15.26) and Bradley Klahn (UTR 14.90). The Championships will offer players of all ages and abilities the chance to compete for $120,000 in total prize money. Dunlop will be the official ball of the tournament.
Players of all ages and abilities will have the chance to compete for $120,000 in total prize money, with the Qualifying Round (August 31-September 2) to be held at Fremont Tennis Center and the top two finishers advancing to take on the pros (September 12-15) at the Berkeley Tennis Club. The championships will also award two wild cards from the qualifying draw to compete in the main draw against the pros. Players will be entered into the draw based on their UTR.
“I'm really excited to be playing in the Kunal Patel San Francisco Championships and can’t wait to take on the top players in the Bay Area,” said Sam Querrey, 2019 Wimbledon quarter-finalist and 2018 California Championships winner. “This innovative, open format is such a great way for both professionals and community players to play side-by-side in the same event, while celebrating Kunal’s life and passion for the sport. I’m looking forward to following up my victory in last year’s UTR California Championships with a strong run at this event."
Prize money will be awarded for the highest-finishing players in multiple categories:
- Kunal Patel San Francisco Championships Title: $50,000 to winner, $20,000 to finalist
- Top Collegiate: $3,000 to expenses for winner, $1,000 to expenses for finalist
- Top 18 & Under: $3,000 to winner, $1,000 to finalist
- Top 40 & over: $2,000 to winner, $1,000 to finalist
- Top 14 & Under: $500 to winner, $250 to finalist
The Championships honor Kunal Patel, a San Francisco tennis player whose life was cut short in 2014 at the young age of 27.
“We started the Kunal Patel SF Open in 2016 to honor the memory of my son, Kunal Patel, an avid tennis player and sports fan whose enthusiasm and zest for life was tragically cut short,” said Mukesh Patel, Founder of the Kunal Patel SF organization. “This year’s Kunal Patel San Francisco Championships is a wonderful way to bring greater tennis community together to celebrate Kunal’s life and love of the game.”
Visit MyUTR.com/KPSF to sign up for what is sure to be a fantastic event for players and fans. Registration closes August 25.
To find and register for prize money tournaments near you, visit MyUTR.com/OpenSeries. All UTR Open Series events have a minimum of $1K in prize money or an ATP/WTA wild card attached.