Local and state USTA associations developed Charlotte as an elite tennis city

Tennis fans in and around Charlotte, N.C., are applauding the WTA announcement to move the prestigious WTA Finals to the Queen City in 2027-29. 

Last week, the WTA announced a new focus on Charlotte by hosting the top eight women’s singles players and doubles teams at the Spectrum Center, home of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, starting November 2027. Additionally, the WTA is moving their headquarters from Florida to Charlotte adds another major sports and business hub to the city.

Valerie Camillo, Chair of the WTA, said, “In Charlotte, we found more than a host city. We found partners who share that ambition and a place where we can build a true home for the Finals and for the WTA.”

Charlotte Tennis Association & USTA North Carolina create tennis haven

Two tennis organizations have expanded the area’s tennis player population, giving the tournament a large base of potential ticket buyers within a few hours of downtown Charlotte.

Kelly Gaines has led as USTA North Carolina Executive Director for decades. Carla O’Connor serves in the same capacity for the Charlotte Tennis Association, a USTA community tennis association. 

There are 44,636 North Carolinians who are USTA members. Those tennis players, along with a large and growing number of players in Charlotte, have made the Queen City one of the top 10 metro areas for tennis in the country, O’Connor said.

“Mecklenburg County's population grew by approximately 56% over 20 years, while USTA League and Junior Team Tennis participation grew by nearly 200%,” she added. The CTA facilitated more than 66,000 play occasions in 2025 in and around Charlotte, a 28% growth over the last six years and a projected 6% increase in 2026.

“Our organizations deserve credit for building market infrastructure over 20 years of consistent program growth,” Gaines said. She noted that ticket sales at the ATP’s Winston-Salem Open were up 25% this year from the previous year, demonstrating strong local support for professional tennis in North Carolina. 

“Attendance strategies must focus heavily on community outreach, such as engaging school groups, to keep the stands full during the WTA Finals,” Gaines added.

Local history of international tennis competitions

Charlotte has a long history of hosting international competitions.

• 1971 Davis Cup, U.S. defeated Romania.

• 1993 Davis Cup, U.S. defeated Bahamas.

• 2002 Fed Cup (currently the Billie Jean King Cup), Austria defeated the U.S.

Additionally, the Charlotte Invitational has brought top players to the Spectrum Center over the last two years.

A recent bid by Credit One Charleston Open and Cincinnati Open owner Ben Navarro to move the latter event to Charlotte didn’t materialize. However, both O’Connor and Gaines said the effort has brought more attention to Charlotte. They also hope the WTA's move will boost the decades-long effort to build a large public tennis facility in the city.

Moving the WTA headquarters is another feather in the cap of the city, which is now the home of numerous major banks and other corporate headquarters, along with NASCAR and the ACC.

Will Pitts, CEO of the Charlotte Sports Foundation, said, "Bringing the WTA Finals to our city is a testament to what Charlotte has become as a world-class sports destination. None of this happens without the support of our partners at the state, city, and county levels, and we are deeply thankful for their commitment to growing Charlotte's sports footprint.”