WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Tennis has taken over the Camel City for the 2024 Winston-Salem Open.

Balls will be flying at Wake Forest University for the 13th Winston-Salem Open, the last stop on the ATP Tour prior to the U.S. Open in New York later this month. 

Fans watching a match at the Winston-Salem Open. (Sydney McCoy/Spectrum News 1)

“The Winston-Salem Open is unique for a number of reasons. For starters, the courts, the facility, the lighting, it’s very similar to what the players are going to find in New York City. That is key since New York is the very next tournament. You may not realize the balls bounce a different way depending on how hot it is or how dry the air is or what the surface is like. The humidity. What kind of lights do you see? How do you see the ball? We have constructed this facility to be as close to New York as we can make it here in North Carolina,” said Robin Lindner, the Winston-Salem Open director of marketing and communications. 

The tournament, which began in 2011, consists of a 48-player singles main draw with four players coming from qualifying and 16 team draws for doubles. 

“It’s increasingly rare to have this caliber of an event in a city like ours. We really value our fan and community support because without those fans and without that community support, we wouldn’t have a tournament,” Lindner said. 

Last year around 30,000 fans attended the tournament, and it has some of the best players from around the world in attendance, including some Olympic medalists. 

“There is not a bad seat in the house on our stadium courts and fans year after year tell us it is that intimate setting that they really enjoy so much,” Lindner said.

Sarah Garrison (right) and her team helping construct a photo op at their shaded tent. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is a platinum sponsor of the event and the official health sponsor, taking care of all of the athletes with a medical director on the grounds at all time. 

“As a level 1 trauma center here in the Triad, we take care of the sickest of the sick and the worst injuries. And we are so proud and honored to be able to care for these athletes knowing that they trust us and we’re able to take care of them and let them perform at their highest ability,” said Sarah Garrison, the director of Brand Partnerships for Atrium Health. 

Not only is the sponsor taking care of the athletes, this year, it will have a shaded area with chairs for fans, a highly sought-after request. 

Attendees can also grab a fan, water and watch practices at Atrium Health’s booth as well. 

“We love being able to come out and interact with fans and really help bring health benefits to the fan as they’re out here,” Garrison said. 

The tournament runs through Saturday and the U.S. Open Main draw starts on August 26.