Sporting KC Sponsors Upcoming USTA Missouri Adult Tournament

Last fall, Leslie Echols — USTA Missouri District League Coordinator — ran her first USTA tournament and contacted local businesses to see if they wanted to get involved. One of them, Springfield Brewing Company, encouraged Echols to get in touch with Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City.

Echols proceeded to reach out to Sporting KC, and the club was very receptive to the opportunity. Sporting KC decided to sponsor the Adult Doubles Fall Open, which took place in mid-November at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. The soccer club gave away a jersey, tickets to a game and door prizes to tournament participants.

“It was a big hit with the players,” Echols said. “They had lots of fun prizes. It’s been a great contact. There’s a good relationship there.”

Sporting Kansas City is back at it again this year, as the club is sponsoring the Adult Spring Doubles and Singles Open that takes place May 13-15 at Cooper. The Level 6 open event — which features Echols as tournament director — is comprised of singles and doubles flights for both men and women, as well as mixed doubles offerings. The fall adult tourney did not carry a singles option.

“To have Sporting KC back means a lot,” Echols said. “To me, it signifies our event was successful. They saw that. They believe in us enough to come back a second time. It’s pretty significant.”

After a strong turnout of 55 participants for the Adult Doubles Fall Open — about half of whom registered for multiple events — Echols is shooting for at least 75 participants this spring. Players receive a $10 discount upon registering for a second event and a $20 discount when registering for a third event. That’s a significant savings Echols hopes prompts individuals to sign up for multiple offerings.

Players can register for the Adult Spring Doubles and Singles Open by clicking here. Sign-ups conclude on May 10, and events are limited to the first eight players/teams. Participants are guaranteed three matches per event.

Echols said players looking for doubles partners can reach out to her via email at lemotennis@gmail.com for assistance. An outline of the tentative schedule is posted on the tournament’s home page.

When players check in for the tournament, they’ll be able to scan a QR code to enter the drawing for Sporting KC giveaways. A representative from the soccer club will be on hand at Cooper Complex. Echols noted the award-winning facility’s outdoor courts were recently resurfaced, which will make the event an even better playing experience for entrants.

“I’m excited for the tournament,” Echols said. “We had a great turnout in the fall. In the spring, I’m hoping for an even better turnout since the weather should be nice. If you love tennis and you love playing all weekend, it’s going to be a great event.”

To read more about the adult tournaments and leagues USTA Missouri is slated to have this year, click here.